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J-lOT^-—:^             — ^-            -     ^ 

LIBRA.RY 

OF   THE                                                                                   1 

Theological   Seminary, 

PRINCETON,    N.J. 

Cane, L^^^C^S-i-w?'.... 

Shelf.          fOj^ 

Book,    } 



^Wl: 


PROOFS 


OTA 


CONSPIRACY 


AGAINST   ALL    THE 

RELIGIONS  AND  GOVERNMENTS 


E  U  Pv  O  P  E, 

CARRIED    ON 

IN  THE  SECRET  MEETINGS 

O  F 

FREE  MASONS,  ILLUMINATI, 


READING  SOCIETIES. 


COLLECTED   FROM   GOOD   AUTHORITIES, 

By  JOHN  ROBISON,  A.  M. 


7R0FKSS0K.  OF   NATURAL   PH!'-OSOPHY,   AND   S2C?,:;TAS.Y   TO  THE 
ROYAL   SOCIET'f   OF   EDINBURGH. 

NdTfi  ilea  res  agiiur  paries  cu7n-  proxiiniis  ardct, 

THE    FOURTH    EDITION. 

TO  WHICH  13  ADDED,  A  POSTSCRIPT. 


NElF-rORK: 

Printed    by     Gcoreo  I'orman,    No.  64,    for  Coir.elius^Davis, 

bL-okrai  r,  Nc.  94,  V:a-.er-Street. 

1798. 


TO  THE   RIGPIT  HONORABLE 

WILLIAM    WYNDHAM, 

SECRETARY  AT    WAR,    &c.  &c.  Sec. 

SIR, 

IT  was  with  great  fatisfaHion  that  I  learned  from  a 
"friend  that  you  coincided  with  rat  in  the  opinion^  that 
the  information  contained  in  this  performance  would  make 
a  ufeful  impreffion  on  the  minds  of  my  Countrymen^ 

I*have  prefumed  to  infcrihe  it  with  your  Name,,  that  I 
may  publicly  exprefs  the  pleafure  which  I  ftlt^  when  I 
found  that  neither  a  feparation  for  thirty  ycars^  nor  the 
prefjitre  of  the  moji  important  hfnefs,  had  eff'aced  your 
kind  remembrance  of  a  College  Acquaintance^  or  abated 
that  obliging  and  polite  attention  with  which  you  favored 
me  in  thofe  early  days  of  life. 

The  friendfJiip  of  the  accompliJJied  and  the  worthy  is 
the  highejl  honor  ;  and  to  him  who  is  cut  off,  by  want  of 
health,  from  almofl  every  other  enjoyment,  it  is  an  inejlz- 
mable  bleffing.  Accept,  therefore,  I  pray,  of  r,:y  grate- 
ful acknowledgements,  and  of  my  earneft  wiflies  for  your 
Health,  Profperity,  and  increafing  Honor. 

With  fentiments  of  the  greatefi  Efteem  and  Refpeci^ 
I  am, 

SIR, 

Your-mnfi  obedient, 

and  mofl  humble  Servant, 
JOHN  ROJBISOM. 

Edinburgh,      1 
September  ^i   1 797*  J  * 


OUODfi  quis  vera  vitam  rationc  guhernet^ 
J) n)ttio3  gr ancles  homini  funt,  vtvere  parcc 
jEquo  ammo  :   neque  cnim  ejl  unquam  penuria  parv:^ 
At  clarosfe  homines  voluerunt  atque  poientcs, 
ULjundamento  jlahili  fortuna  7nantret^ 
Et  placidam  pojjent  opiiknti  degere  vitam  : 
Neauicquam. — quoniam  ad  fummum  Jucccdcrc  honor  en 
Ceriantes,  iter  infe/iumfecSre  viai, 
£t  tamen  efimmo  quafi  fahnen  dejicit  iBos 
Jnvidia  inter dum  .contejnptim  in  Tartara  tttra, 

» 

Ergo^  Regibus  occifr:,  fuhvcrfa  jacehat 
Prijiina  majefias  Joliorim,  etjceptra  fupcrha  ; 
Et  capitis  Jummi  prceclarum  mfigne,  crueniim. 
Sub  pedibus  volgi  magnuvi  higebat  hon'orem  : 
Nam  cupide  conculcatur  nimis  ante  metii{u7n. 
Res  itaqe  adfitmmamfa^cem,  turbajque  redibai, 
Jmpcrmmfibi  cum  acfummatum  qidjque  pcicbat. 

Lucretius,  V.   li53< 


INTRODUCTION. 


B 


E  I  N  G  at  a  friend's  houfe  in  the  country  during 
fome  part  of  the  fumraer  1795,  I  there  faw  a  volume  of 
a  German  periodical  work,  called  Religions  Begeben- 
heiten,  i.  e.  Religious  Occurrences ;  in  which  there  was 
an  account  of  the  various  fchifms  in  the  Fraternity  of 
Free  Mafons,  with  frequent  allufions  to  the  origin  and 
hiftory  of  that  celebrated  affociation.  This  account  in- 
terefted  me  a  good  deal,  becaufe,  in  my  early  life,  I  had 
taken  fome  part  in  the  occupations  (ihall  I  call  them}  of 
Free  Mafonry  ;  and  having  chiefly  frequented  the  Lodg- 
es on  the  Continent,  I  had  learned  many  do6lrines,  and 
feen  many  ceremonials,  which  have  no  place  in  the  Am- 
ple fyftem  of  Free  Mafonry  which  obtains  in  this  coun- 
try. I  had  alfo  remarked,  that  the  whole  was  much 
more  the  objeft  of  reflexion  and  thought  than  I  could 
remember  it  to  have  been  among  my  acquaintances  at 
home.  There,  I  had  feen  a  Mafon  Lodge  confidered 
merely  as  a  pretext  for  paffing  an  hour  or  two  in  a  fort 
of  decent  conviviality,  not  altogether  void  of  fome  ra- 
tional occupation.  I  had  fometimes  heard  of  differen- 
ces of  do6trines  or  of  ceremonies,  but  in  terms  which 
marked   them  as  mere  frivolities.     But,  on  the  Conti- 


8  I  N  T  R  O  D  U  C  T  I  O  N. 

ncnt.  I  found  them  matters  of  ferious  concern  and  de- 
bate. Such  too  is  the  contagion  of  example,  that  I 
could  not  hinder  myfelf  from  thinking  one  opinion  bet- 
ter founded  J  or  one  Ritual  more  appoiite  and  fignificant, 
than  another  ;  and  I  even  felt  fomethiiig  like  an  anxiety 
for  its  being  adopted,  and  a  zeal  for  making  it  a  general 
pra61ice.  I  had  been  initiated  in  a  very  fplendid  Lodge 
^t  Liege,  of  which  the  Prince  Biihop,  his  Trcfonciers, 
and  the  chief  Noble (Te  of  the  State,  were  members.  I 
vifited  the  French  Lodges  at  Valenciennes,  at  BrulTels, 
£t  Aix-la-Chapelle,  at  Berlin,  and  Koningfberg ;  and  I 
picked  up  fome  printed  difcourfes  delivered  by  the  Bro- 
ther-orators of  the  Lodijes.  At  St.  Peterfour^h  I  con- 
nccled  myfelf  with  the  Englifli  Lodge,  and  occafionallv 
vifitcd  the  German  and  Ruffian  Lodges  held  there.  I 
found  myfelf  received  with  particular  refpeft  as  a  Scotch 
Mafon,  and  as  an  Eleve  of  the  Lodge  de  la  Parjaite  In- 
iflligcnce  at  Liege.  I  v/as  importuned  by  perfons  of  the 
f  rft  rank  to  puFfue  my  mafonic  career  through  many 
deforces  unknown.in  this  country.  But  all  the  fplendour 
and  elegance  that  I  fav/  could  not  conceal  a  frivolity  in 
every  part.  It  appeared  a  bafeiefs  fabric,  and  I  could 
not  think  of  engaging  in  an  occupation  which  would 
confurae  much  time,  coft  me  a  good  deal  of  money 
and  might  perhaps  exciie  in  me  fome  of  that  fanaticilm, 
or,  at  Icaft,  enthufiafm  that  I  law  in  others,  and  per- 
ceived to  be  void  of  any  rational  fupport.  I  therefore 
remained  in  the  Enoiidi  Lodge,  contented' with  the  rank 
of  Scotch  MaRer,  w'hich  wts  in  a  manner  forced  on  me 
in  a  private  Lodge  of  French  Mafons,  but-  is  not  givent 
in  the  Englifli  Lodge.  My  mafonic  rank  admitted  me 
to  a  very  elegant  entertainment  iti  the  female  Logc  de  la 
F/ delete,  where  every  ceremonial  was  compofed  in  the 
higheft  degree  of  elegance,  and  e\ciy  thing  conduced 
with  the  molt  delicate  rcfpccl  for  our  fair   fillers,  and 


INTRODUCTION.  g 

the  old  fong  of  brotherly  love  was  chanted  in  the  moft 
refined  ftrain  of  fentiment.  I  do  not  fuppofe  that  the 
Parifian  Free  Malbnry  of  forty-fi.ve  degrees  could  give 
me  more  entertainment.  I  had  profited  fo  much  by  it, 
that  I  had  the  honor  of  being  appointed  the  Brother- 
orator.  In  this  office  I  gave  fuch  fatisfa6lion,  that  a 
worthy  Brother  fent  me  at  midnight  a  box,  which  he 
committed  to  my  care,  as  a  perfon  far  advanced  in  ma- 
fonic  fcience,  zealoufly  attached  to  the  order,  and 
therefore  a  fit  depofitary  of  important  writings.  I  learn- 
ed next  day  that  this  gentleman  had  found  it  convenient 
to  leave  the  empire  in  a  hurry,  but  taking  with  him  the 
funds  of  an  eftablifhment  of  which  her  Imperial  Majefly 
had  made  him  the  manager.  I  was  defired  to  keep  thefe 
writings  till  he  fliould  fee  me  again.  I  obeyed.  About 
ten  years  afterward  I  faw  the  gentleman  on  the  ftreet  in 
Edinburgh,  converfing  with  a  foreigner.  As  I  palled 
by  him,  I  faluted  him  foftly  in  the  Ruffian  language ; 
but  without  flopping,  or  even  looking  him  in  the  face. 
He  coloured,  but  made  no  return.  I  endeavoured  in 
vain  to  meet  with  him,  intending  to  make  a  proper  re- 
turn for  much  civility  and  kindnefs  which  I  had  received 
from  him  in  his  own  country. 

I  now  conlidered  the  box  as  acceffible  to  myfelf,  and 
opened  it.  I  found  it  to  contain  all  the  degrees  of  the 
Far/ait  Magon  Ecoffbis,  with  the  Rituals,  Catechifms, 
and  Inftrudions,  and  alfo  four  other  degrees  of  Free 
Mafonry,  as  cultivated  in  the  Parifian  Lodges.  I  have 
kept  them  with  all  care,  and  mean  to  give  them  to  ibme 
refpeftable  Lodge.  But  as  I  am  bound  by  no  engage- 
ment of  any  kind,  I  hold  myfelf  as  at  liberty  to  make 
fuch  ufe  of  them  as  may  be  ferviceable  to  the  public, 
without  enabling  any  uninitiated  perfon  to  enter  the 
Lodges  of  thefe  degrees.  B 


10  INTRODUCTION. 

This  acqiiifition  might  have  roufed  my  former  teViik 
for  Mafonry,  had  it  been  merely  dormant ;  but,  after 
fo  long  feparation  from  the  Logc  de  ki  Fidelite,  the  ma- 
fonic  fpirit  had  evaporated.  Some  curiofity ,  however,  re- 
mained, and  fome  wifh  to  trace  this  plaftic  myftery  to  the 
pit  from  which  the  clay  had  been  dug,  which  has  been 
moulded  into  fo  many  different  fliapes,  "  fome  to  ho- 
nor, and  fome  to  difhonor."  But  my  opportunities 
were  now  gone.  I  had  given  away  (when  in  Ruffia) 
my  volumes  of  difcourfes,  and  fom.e  far-fetched  and 
gratuitous  hiftories,  and  nothing  remained  but  the  piti- 
ful work  of  Anderfon,  and  the  Ma^onnerie  Adonhira- 
Tiiique  devoilee,  which  are  in  every  one's  hands. 

My  curiofity  was  flrongly  roufed  by  the  accounts 
given  in  the  Religions  Begebenheiten.  There  I  faw 
quotations  without  number;  fyflems  and  fchifms  of 
which  I  had  never  heard  ;  but  what  particularly  flruck 
me,  was  a  zeal  and  fanaticifm  about  w^hat  I  thought  tri- 
fles, which  afloniflied  me.  Men  of  rank  and  fortune, 
and  engaged,  in  ferious  and  honorable  public  employ- 
ments, not  only  frequenting  the  Lodges  of  the  cities 
where  they  refided,  but  journeying  from  one  end  of 
Germany  or  France  to  the  other,  to  vifit  new  Lodges, 
or  to  learn  new  fecrets  or  new  do8^rines.  I  faw  con- 
ventions held  at  Wifmar,  at  Wifbad,  at  Kohlo,  at 
Brunfwick,  and  at  Willemfbad,  confifting  of  fome  hun- 
dreds of  perfons  of  refpeftable  ftations.  I  faw  adven- 
turers coming  to  a  city,  profeffmg  fome  new  fecret,  and 
in  a  few  days  forming  new  Lodges,  and  inftrufting  in  a 
troublefome  and  expenfive  manner  hundreds  of  brethren. 

German  Mafonry  appeared  a  very  ferious  concern, 
and  to  be  implicated  with  other  fubje6ls  with  which  1 
had  never  fufpefted  it  to  have  any  connexion.     I  faw 


INTRODUCTION.  it 

it  much  conncfted  with  many  occurrences  and  fchifms 
in  the  Chriltian  church ;  I  faw  that  the  Jefuits  had  fe- 
veral  times  interfered  in  it ;  and  that  mod  of  the  excep- 
tionable innovations  and  difTentions  had  arifen  about  the 
time  that  the  order  of  Loyola  was  fupprefled  ;  fo  that  it 
fhould  feem,  that  thefe  intriguing  brethren  had  attempt- 
ed to  mahitain  their  influence  by  the  help  of  Free  Ala- 
fonry.  I  faw  it  much  difturbed  by  the  myuical  whims 
of  J.  Behmen  and  Swedenborg — by  the  fanatical  and 
knavifli  do6lrines  of  the  modern  Rofy  crucians — by  Ma- 
gicians— Magnetifers — Exorcills,  &:c.  And  I  obferv- 
ed  that  thefe  different  feels  reprobated  each  other,  as 
not  only  maintaining  erroneous  opinions,  but  even  in- 
cukating  opinions  which  were  contrary  to  the  eftablifn- 
ed  religions  of  Germany,  and  contrary  to  the  principles 
of  the  civil  ellablifhments.  At  the  fame  time  they 
charged  each  other  with  miftakes  and  corruptions,  both 
in  do6lrine  and  in  praftice;  and  particularly  with  falfi- 
fication  of  the  firil  principles  of  Free  Mafonry,  and  with 
ignorance  of  its  origin  and  its  hillory  ;  and  they  fup- 
ported  thefe  charges  by  authorities  from  many  different 
books  which  were  unknown  to  me. 

My  curiofity  w-as  now  greatly  excited.  I  got  from  a 
much-refpetted  friend  many  of  the  preceding  volumes 
of  the  Religions  Begebenheitm,  in  hopes  of  much  infor- 
mation from  the  patient  indultry  of  German  erudition. 
This  opened  a  new  and  very  interefting  fcene  ;  I  was 
frequently  fentback  to  England,  from  whence  all  agreed 
that  Free  Mafonry  had  been  imported  into  Germany. 
I  v/as  frequently  led  into  France  and  into  Italy.  There, 
and  more  remarkably  in  France,  I  found  that  the  Lodges 
had  become  the  haunts  of  many  projeftors  and  fanatics, 
both  in  fcience,  in  religion,  and  in  politics,  who  had 
availed   themfelvcs  of  the  fecrecy   and  the  freedom  of 


12  INTRODUCTION. 

fpeech  maintained  in  thefe  meetings,  to  broacli  their  par^ 
ticular  whims,  or  fufpicious  doftrines,  which,  if  piiblifh- 
ed  to  the  world  in  the  ufual  manner,  would  have  expofed 
the  authors  to  ridicule,  or  to  cenfure.  Thefe  projec- 
tors had  contrived  to  tag  their  peculiar  noftrums  to  the 
mummery  of  Mafonry,  and  were  even  allowed  to  twift 
the  mafonic  emblems  and  ceremonies  to  their  purpofe  ; 
fo  that  in  their  hands  Free  Mafonry  became  a  thing  to- 
tally unlike,  and  almoft  in  direB:  oppofition  to  the  fyf- 
tem  (if  it  may  get  fuch  a  name)  imported  from  England ; 
and  feme  Lodges  had  become  fchools  of  irreligion  and 
licentioufnefs. 

No  nation  in  modern  times  has  fo  particularly  turned 
its  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  every  thing  that  is  re- 
fined or  ornamental  as  France,  and  it  has  long  been  the 
refort  of  all  who  hunt  after  entertainment  in  its  moft  re- 
fined form ;  the  French  have  come  to  confider  thcm- 
felves  as  the  inftrudors  of  the  world  in  every  thing  that 
ornaments  life,  and  feeling  themfelves  received  as  fuch, 
they  have  formed  their  manners  accordingly — full  of 
the  moft  condefcending  complaifance  to  all  who  acknow- 
ledge their  fuperiority.  Delighted,  in  a  high  degree,  with 
.this  office,  they  have  become  zealous  miffionaries  of  re- 
finement in  every  department  of  human  purfuit,  and  have 
reduced  their  apoftolic  employment  to  a  fyftem,  which 
they  profecute  with  ardour  and  delight.  This  is  not 
groundlefs  declamation,  but  fober  hiftorical  truth.  It 
was  the  profeffed  aim  (and  it  was  a  magnificent  and  wife 
aim)  of  the  great  Colbert,  to  make  the  court  of  Louis 
^^IV.  the  fountain  of  human  refinement,  and  Paris  the 
Athens  of  Europe.  We  need  only  look  at  the  plunder 
of  Italy  by  the  French  array,  to  be  convinced  that  their 
low-born  generals  and  ftatefmen  have  in  this  refpcft  the 
fame  notions  with  the  Colberts  and  the  Richlieus. 


INTRODUCTION.  13 

"FkTiow  no  fubje6:  in  which  this  aim  at  uiiiveiTal  in-» 
fluence  on  the  opinions  of  men,  by  holding  themfelves 
forth  as  the  models  of  excellence  and  elegance,  is  more 
clearly  feen  than  in  the  care  that  they  have  been  pieafed 
10  take  of  Free.  Mafonry.  It  feems  indeed  peculiarly 
fuited  to  the  talents  and  tafte  of  that  vain  and  ardent  peo- 
ple. Bafelefs  and  frivolous,  it  admits  of  every  form 
thiat  Gallic  refinement  can  invent,  to  recommend  it  to 
the  young,  the  gay,  the  luxurious;  that  clafs  of,  fociety 
which  alone  deferves  their  care,  becaufe,  in  one  way  or 
another,  it  leads  all  other  clafles  of  fociety. 

It  has  accordingly  happened,  that  the  homely  Free 
Mafonry  imported  from  England  has  been  totally  chang- 
ed in  every  country  of  Europe,  either  by  the  impofmg 
afcendancy  of  French  brethren,  who  are  to  be  found 
every  where,  ready  to  inftruft  the  world ;  or  by  the  im- 
portation of  the  doftrines,  and  ceremonies,  and  orna- 
ments of  the  Parifian  Lodges.  Even  England,  the 
birth-place  of  Mafonry,  has  experienced  the  French  in- 
novations; and  all  the  repeated  injunftions,  admoniti- 
ons, and  reproofs  of  the  old  Lodges,  cannot  prevent 
thofe  in  different  parts  of  the  kingdom  frora  admitting 
the  French  novelties,  full  of  tinfel  and  glitter,  and  high- 
founding  titles. 

Were  this  all,  the  harm  would  not  be  great.  But 
long  before  good  opportunities  had  occurred  for  fpread- 
ing  the  refinements  on  the  iimple  Free  Mafonrj/  of  Eng- 
land, the  Lodges  in  France  had  become  places  of  very 
ferious  difcuffion,  where  opinions  in  morals,  in  religion, 
gnd  in  politics,  had  been  promulgated  and  maintained 
with  a  freedom  and  a  keennefs,  of  which  we  in  this  fa- 
vored land  have  no  adequate  notion,  becaufe  we  are 
unacquainted  with  the  refiraints,  which,  in  other  coun- 


14  INTRODUCTION. 

tiies,  are  laid  on  ordinary  converfation.  In  confe- 
quence  of  this,  the  French  innovations  in  Free  Mafonry 
were  quickly  followed  in  all  parts  of  Europe,  by  the 
admiffion  of  fimilar  difcuffions,  although  in  direft  oppo- 
fition  to  a  (landing  rule,  and  a  declaration  made  to  eve- 
ry newly  received  Brother,  "  that  nothing  touching  the 
religion  or  government  fhall  ever  be  fpoken  of  in  the 
Lodge."  But  the  Lodges  in  other  countries  followed 
the  example  of  France,  and  have  frequently  become  the 
rendezvous  of  innovators  in  religion  and  politics,  and 
other  difturbers  of  the  public  peace.  In  Ihort,  I  have 
found  that  the  covert  of  a  Mafon  Lodge  had  been  em- 
ployed in  every  country  for  venting  and  propagating 
fentiments  in  religion  and  politics,  that  could  not  have 
circulated  in  public  without  expofing  the  author  to  great 
danger.  I  found,  that  this  impunity  had  gradually  en- 
couraged men  of  licentious  principles  to  become  more 
bold,  and  to  teach  doftrines  fubverfive  of  all  our  notions 
of  morality — of  all  our  confidence  in  the  moral  govern- 
ment of  the  univerfe — of  all  our  hopes  of  improvement 
in  a  future  ftate  of  exiftence — and  of  all  fatisfaftion  and 
contentment  with  our  prefent  life,  fo  long  aj  we  live  in 
a  ftate  of  civil  fubordination.  I  have  been  able  to  trace 
tliefe  attempts,  made,  through  a  courfe  of  fifty  years, 
under  the  fpecious  pretext  of  enlightening  the  v/orld  by 
the  torch  of  philofophy,  and  of  difpelling  the  clouds  of 
civil  and  religious  fuperftition  which  keep  the  nations  of 
Europe  in  darknefs  and  flavery.  I  have  obferved  thefe 
do9:rines  gradually  diffafing  and  mixing  with  all  the  dif- 
ferent fyftems  of  Free  Mafonry;  till,  at  laft,  an  As- 
sociation HAS  BEEN  FORMED  for  the   cxprcfs  pur- 

pofe  of  ROOTING  OUT  ALL  THE  RELIGIOUS  ESTA- 
BLISHMENTS, AND  OVERTURNING  ALL  THE  EX- 
ISTING GOVERNMENTS  OF  Europe.  I  have  feen 
this  Aflbciation  exerting  itfelf  zealoufly  and  fyltemati- 


INTRODUCTION.  15 

cally,  till  it  has  become  almoft  irrefiftible  :  And  I  have 
ieen  that  the  moft  aftive  leaders  in  the  French  Revolu- 
tion were  members  of  this  Aflbciation,  and  conduced 
their  firft  movements  according  to  its  principles,  and  by 
means  of  its  inftruQions  and  affiftance,  formally  requejl- 
ed  and  obtained  :  And,  lailly,  I  have  feen  that  this  Af- 
fociation  ftill  exifts,  ftill  works  in  fecret,  and  that  not 
only  feveral  appearances  among  ourfelves  Ihow  that  its 
emilTaries  are  endeavouring  to  propagate  their  deteftable 
doftrines  among  us,  but  that  the  Aflbciation  has  Lodges 
in  Britain  correfponding  with  the  mother  Lodge  at  Mu- 
nich ever  fmce  1784. 

If  all  this  were  a  matter  of  mere  curiofity,  and  fuf- 
ceptible  of  no  good  ufe,  it  would  have  been  better  to 
have  kept  it  to  myfelf,  than  to  difturb  my  neighbours 
with  the  knowledge  of  a  ftate  of  things  which  they  can- 
not amend.  But  if  it  fliall  appear  that  the  minds  of  my 
countrymen  are  mifled  in  the  very  fame  manner  as 
were  thofe  of  our  continental  neighbours — if  I  cm\  fliow 
that  the  reafonings  which  make  a  very  ftrong  imprefiion 
on  fome  perfons  in  this  country  are  the  fame  which  ac- 
tually produced  the  dangerous  aflbciation  in  Germany  ; 
and  that  they  had  this  unhappy  influence  folely  becaufe 
they  were  thought  to  be  fmcere,  and  the  expreffions  of 
the  fentiments  of  the  fpeakers — if  I  can  fhow  that  this 
was  all  a  cheat,  and  that  the  Leaders  of  this  Aflbciation 
difbelieved  every  word  that  they  uttered,  and  every  doc- 
trine that  they  taught ;  and  that  their  real  intention  was 
to  abolifli  all  religion,  overturn  every  government,  and 
make  the  world  a  general  plunder  and  a  wreck — if  I  can 
fhow,  that  the  principles  which  the  Founder  and  Lead- 
ers of  this  Aflbciation  held  forth  as  the  perfeftion  of  hu- 
man virtue,  and  the  mofl:  powerful  and  efficacious  for 
forming  the  minds  of  men,  and  making  them  good  and 


46  I  N  T  R  O  D  U  C  T  I  O  N. 

happy,  had  no  influence  on  the  Founder  and  Leaders 
themrelves,  and  that  they  were,  almoft  without  excep- 
tion, the  moft  in{%nifi''cant,  worthlefs,  and  profligate  of 
men;  I  cannot  but  think,  that  fuch  information  will 
make  my  countrymen  hefitate  a  little,  and  receive  with 
caution,  and  even  diflruft,  addreffes  and  inftruftions 
which  flatter  our  felf-conceit,  and  which,  by  buoying 
tis  up  with  the  gay  profpeQ  of  what  is  perhaps  attainable 
by  a  change,  may  make  us  difcontented  with  our  pre- 
fent  condition,  and  forget  that  there  never  was  a  go- 
vernment on  earth  where  the  people  of  a  great  and  lux- 
urious nation  enjoyed  fo  much  freedom  and  fecurity 
in  the  polfefTion  of  every  thing  that  is  dear  and  valu- 
able. 

When  we  fee  that  thefe  boafled  principles  had  not 
that  effeft  on  the  leaders  which  they  afiert  to  be  their  na- 
tive, certain,  and  inevitable  confequences,  we  will  dif- 
truft  the  fine  defcriptions  of  the  happinefs  that  fhould 
refult^from  fuch  a  change.  And  when  we  fee  that  the 
methods  which  were  pra6lifed  by  this  Affociation  for 
the  exprefs  purpofe  of  breaking  all  the  bands  of  fociety, 
Were  employed  folely  in  order  that  the  leaders  might 
rule  the  world  with  uncontroulable  power,  while  all  the 
reft,  even  of  the  alfociated,  will  be  degraded  in  their  own 
eflimation,  corrupted  in  their  principles,  and  employed 
as  mere  tools  of  the  ambition  oi  ihtu  unknown  fup triors ; 
furely  a  free-born  Briton  will  not  hefitate  to  rejeft  at 
once,  and  without  any  farther  examination,  a  plan  fo  big 
with  mifchief,  fo  difgraceful  to  its  underling  adherents, 
and  fo  uncertain  in  its  iffue. 

Thefe  hopes  have  induced  me  to  lay  before  the  pub- 
lic a  fhort  abftratl:  of  the  information  which  I  think  I 
have  received.     It  will  be  Ihort,  but  I  hope  fufficient 


INTRODUCTION.  i> 

for  eftablifhing  the  fa6l,  that  this  deteflahle  AJfociation  ex- 
ijls,  and  its  emijfaries  are  bufy  among  ourf elves. 

1  was  not  contented  with  the  quotations  which  I  found 
in  the  Religions  Begebenheiten,  but  procured  from  abroad 
fome  of  the  chief  writings  from  which  they  are  taken. 
This  both  gave  me  confidence  in  the  quotations  from 
books  which  I  could  not  procure,  and  furniflied  me  with 
more  materials.  Much,  however,  remains  untold,  richly 
deferving  the  attention  of  all  thofe  who  feel  themfelves 
difpofed  to  liften  to  the  tales  of  a  pofTible  happinefs  that 
may  be  enjoyed  in  a  fociety  where  all  the  magiftrates  are 
wife  and  juft,  and  all  the  people  are  honeft  and  kind. 

I  hope  that  I  am  honeft  and  candid.  I  have  been  at 
all  pains  to  give  the  true  fenfe  of  the  authors.  My 
knowledge  of  the  German  language  is  but  fcanty,  but  I 
have  had  the  afliftance  of  friends  whenever  I  was  in 
doubt.  In  compreffmg  into  one  paragraph  what  I  have 
colle6led  from  many,  I  have,  as  much  as  I  was  able, 
iluck  to  the  words  of  the  author,  and  have  been  anxious 
to  give  his  precife  meaning.  I  doubt  not  but  that  I 
have  fometimes  failed,  and  will  receive  correction  with 
deference.  I  entreat  the  reader  not  to  expeft  a  piece 
of  good  literary  compofition.  I  am  very  fenfible  that 
it  is  far  from  it — it  is  written  during  bad  health,  when  I 
am  not  at  eafe — and  I  wifhed  to  conceal  my  name — but 
my  motive  is,  without  the  fmalleft  mixture  of  another, 
to  do  fome  good  in  the  only  way  I  am  able,  and  I  think 
that  what  I  fay  will  come  with  better  grace,  and  be  re- 
ceived with  more  confidence,  than  any  anonymous  pub- 
lication. Of  thefe  I  am  now  moft  heartily  fick.  I  throw 
myfelf  on  my  country  with  a  free  heart,  and  I  bow  with 
deference  to  its  decifion. 

C 


i8  I  N  T  R  O  D  U  G  T  I  O  N. 

The  AfTociation  of  which  I  have  been  {peaking,  is  the 
Order  of  Illumin  ati,  founded  in  1775,  by  Dr.  Adam 
Weifhaupt,  profeflbr  of  Canon  law  in  die  univerfitv  of 
Ingolltadt,  andabolifhed  in  1786  by  die  Elector  of  Ba- 
varia, but  revived  immediately  after,  under  another 
name,  and  in  a  different  form,  all  over  Germany.  It 
-^as  again  dete6led,  and  feemingly  broken  up;  but  it 
had  by  this  time  taken  fo  deep  root  that  it  ftill  fublifts 
without  being  detefted,  and  has  fpread  into  all  the  coun- 
tries of  Europe.  It  took  its  firft  rife  among  the  Free 
Mafons,  but  is  totally  different  from  Free  Mafonry.  It 
was  not,  however,  the  mere  protedion  gained  by  the  fe- 
crecy  of  the  Lodges  that  gave  occaiion  to  it,  but  it  arofe 
naturally  from  the  corruptions  that  had  gradually  crept 
into  that  fraternity,  the  violence  of  the  party -fpirit  which 
pervaded  it,  and  from  the  total  uncertainty  and  dark- 
nefs  that  hangs  over  the  whole  of  that  my  fterious  Affoci- 
;ation.  It  is  neceffary,  therefore,  to  give  fome  account 
-of  the  innovations  that  have  been  introduced  into  Free 
Mafonry  from  the  time  that  it  made  its  appearance  on 
the  continent  of  Europe  as  a  myftical  Society,  poffef- 
fing  fecrets  different  from  thofe  of  the  mechanical  em- 
|}lQyraent  who'fe  name  it  affumed,  and  thus  affording  en- 
tertainment and  occupation  to  perfons  of  all  ranks  and 
profeffions.  It  is  by  no  means  intended  to  give'a  hiftory 
of  Free  Mafonry.  This  would  lead  to  a  very  long  dif- 
cuffion.  The  patient  indullry  of  German  erudition  has 
been  very  ferioufly  employed  on  this  fubjeft,  and  many 
performances  have  been  publiflied,  of  v/hich  fome  ac- 
count is  given  in  the  different  volumes  of  the  Religions 
Begebenhciten,  particularly  in  thofe  for  1779,  1785,  and 
1.786.  It  is  evident,  from  the  nature  of  the  thing,  that 
ihey  cannot  be  very  inftruBive  to  the  public  ;  becaufe 
the  obligation  of  fecrecy  refpeCling  the  important  mat- 
ters which  are  the  very  fubjeBs  of  debate,  prevents  the 


INTRODUCTION.  19 

author  from  giving  that  full  information  that  is  required 
from  an  hiRorian  ;  and  the  writers  have  not,  in  general, 
been  perfons  qualified  for  the  talk.  Scanty  erudition, 
credulity,  and  enthuliafm,  appear  in  almoft  all  their 
writings ;  and  they  have  neither  attempted  to  remove  the 
heap  of  rubbifh  with  which  Anderfon  has  difgraced  his 
Corjlltutions  of  Free  Mafonry  (the  bafis  of  mafonic  hif- 
tory)  nor  to  avail  themfeives  of  informations  which  hif- 
tory  really  affords  to  a  fober  enquirer.  Their  Royal 
art  mud  never  forfooth  appear  in  a  ftate  of  infancy  or 
childhood,  like  all  other  human  acquirements  ;  and 
therefore,  when  they  cannot  give  proofs  of  its  exiftence 
in  a  ftate  of  manhood,  poflefled  of  all  its  myfterious 
treafures,  they  fuppofe  what  they  do  not  fee,  and  fay 
that  they  are  concealed  by  the  oadi  of  fecrecy.  Of  fuch 
inftru6tion  I  can  make  no  ufe,  even  if  I  were  difpofed  to 
write  a  hiftory  of  the  Fraternity.  I  fhali  content  myfelf 
with  an  account  of  fuch  particulars  as  are  admitted  by 
all  the  mafonic  parties,  and  which  illuftrate  or  confirm 
my  general  propofition,  making  fuch  ufe  of  the  accounts 
of  the  higher  degrees  in  my  pofleffion  as  I  can,  without 
admitting  the  profane  into  their  Lodges.  Being  under 
no  tie  of  fecrecy  with  regard  to  thefc,  I  am  with-held 
by  difcretion  alone  from  pu.tting  the  public  in  poiTelBon 
of  all  their  niyfteries. 


PROOFS 


O  F 


A    CONSPIRACY,    &c. 


^'t^'i  I        ~ 


CHAP.     I. 

Schifms  in  Free  Mafonry. 


A  HERE  is  undoubtedly  a  dignity  in  the  art  of  build- 
ing, or  in  archite6hire,  which  no  other  art  poflefles,  and 
this,  "whether  we  confider  it  in  its  rudeft  flate,  occupied 
in  raifing  a  hut,  or  as  praftifed  in  a  cultivated  nation, 
in  the  ereftion  of  a  magnificent  and  ornamented  temple. 
As  the  arts  in  general  improve  in  any  nation,  this  jnuft 
always  maintain  its  pre-eminence ;  for  it  employs  them 
all,  and  no  man  can  be  eminent  as  an  architeB;  who  does 
■not  poffefs  a  confiderable  knowledge  of  almoft  every 
fcience  and  art  already  cultivated  in  his  nation.  His 
great  works  are  undertakings  of  the  mod  ferious  con- 
cern, conne6l  him  with  the  public,  or  with  the  rulers  of 
the  flate,  and  attach  to  him  the  pra6litioners  of  other 
artSj  who  are  wholly  occupied  in  executing  his  orders : 


22  THE  SCHISMS  IN 

His  works  are  the  objefts  of  public  attention,  and  are 
not  the  tranfient  fpeftacles  of  the  day,  but  hand  down 
to  pofterity  his  invention,  his  knowledge,  and  his  tatte. 
No  wonder  then  that  he  thinks  highly  of  his  profeffion, 
and  that  the  public  fhould  acquiefce  in  his  pretenfions, 
even  when  in  fome  degree  extravagant. 

It  is  not  at  all  furprifing,  therefore,  that  the  incor- 
porated architefts  in  all  cultivated  nations  fhould  arro- 
gate to  themfelves  a  pre-eminence  over  the  fimilar  affo- 
ciations  of  other  tradefmen.  We  find  traces  of  this  iw 
the  remoteft  antiquity.  The  Dionyfiacs  of  Alia  Minor 
were  undoubtedly  an  affociation  of  architefts  and  engi- 
neers, who  had  the  exclufive  privilege  of  building  tem- 
ples, ftadia,  and  theatres,  under  the  myfterious  tutelage 
of  Bacchus,  and  diftinguillied  from  the  uninitiated  or 
profane  inhabitants  by  the  fcience  which  they  poffeiTed, 
and  by  many  private  figns  and  tokens,  by  which  they 
recognized  each  other.  This  aflbciation  came  into 
Ionia  from  Syria,  into  which  country  it  had  come  from 
Perfia,  along  with  that  flyle  of  architefture  that  we  call 
Grecian.  We  are  alfo  certain  that  there  was  a  fimilar 
trading  affociation,  during  the  dark  ages,  in  Chriftian 
Europe,  which  monopolized  the  building  of  great 
churches  and  caftles,  working  under  the  patronage  and 
prote£lion  of  the  Sovereigns  and  Princes  of  Europe, 
and  poffeding  many  privileges.  Circumftances,  which 
it  would  be  tedious  to  enumerate  and  difcufs,  continu- 
ed this  affociation  later  in  Britain  than  on  the  Confi- 
ncnt. 

But  it  is  quite  uncertain  when  and  why  perfons  who 
were  not  builders  by  profeffion  firfl:  fought  adrhiflion 
into  this  Fraternity.  The  firfl:  diflin£l  and  unequivocal 
inflance  that  we  have  of  this  is  the  admiifioti  of  Mr.  Afh- 


FREE  MASONRY.  23 

inole,  the  famous  antiquary,  in  1648,  into  a  Lodge  at 
Warrington,  along  with  his  father-in-law  Colonel  Main- 
waring.  It  is  not  improbable  that  the  covert  of  fecrecy 
in  thofe  affemblies  had  made  them  courted  by  the  Roy- 
alifts,  as  occafions  of  meeting.  Nay,  the  Ritual  of  the 
Mailer's  degree  feems  to  have  been  formed,  or  perhaps 
twilled  from  its  original  inllitution,  fo  as  to  give  an  op- 
portunity of  founding  the  political  principles  of  the 
candidate,  and  of  the  whole  Brethren  prefent.  For  it 
bears  fo  eafy  an  adaptation  to  the  death  of  the  King, 
to  the  overturning  of  the  venerable  conllitution  of  the 
Englifh  government  of  three  orders  by  a  mean  demo- 
cracy, and  its  re-eflablifliment  by  the  efforts  of  the  loy- 
alifts,  that  this  would  ftart  into  every  perfon's  mind 
during  the  ceremonial,  and  could  hardly  fail  to  fhow,  by 
the  countenances  and  behaviour  of  the  Brethren,  how 
they  were  affefted.  I  recommend  this  hint  to  the  con- 
fideration  of  the  Brethren.  I  have  met  with  many  par- 
ticular fafts,  which  convince  me  that  this  ufe  had  been 
made  of  the  meetings  of  Mafons,  and  that  at  this  time 
the  Jefuits  interfered  confiderably,  infmuating  them- 
felves  into  the  Lodges,  and  contributing  to  encreafe  that 
religious  myfticifm  that  is  to  be  obferved  in  all  the  cere- 
monies of  the  order.  This  fociety  is  well  known  to 
have  put  on  every  fliape,  and  to  have  made  ufe  of  every 
mean  that  could  promote  the  power  and  influence  of  the 
order.  And  we  know  that  at  this  time  they  were  by  no 
means  without  hopes  of  re-ellablifliing  the  dominion  qf 
the  Church  of  Rome  in  England.  Their  fervices  v/ere 
not  fcrupled  at  by  the  diftrelfed  Royalifts,  even  fucli  as 
were  Proteilants,  while  they  were  highly  prized  by  the 
Sovereign.  We  alfo  know  that  Charles  IL  was  made  a 
Mafon,  and  frequented  the  Lodges.  It  is  not  unlikely, 
that  befides  the  amufement  of  a  vacant  hour,  which  was 
.  always  agreeable  to  him,  he  had  pleafure  in  the  meeting 


i4  THE  SCHISMS  IN 

with  his  loyal  friends,  and  in  the  occupations  of  the 
Lodge,  which  recalled  to  his  mind  their  attachment  and 
fervices.  His  brother  and  fucceflbr  James  II.  was  of  a 
more  ferious  and  manly  call  of  mind,  and  had  little  plea- 
fure  in  the  frivolous  ceremonies  of  Mafonry.  He  did 
not  frequent  the  Lodges.  But,  by  this  time,  they  were 
the  refort  of  many  perfons  who  were  not  of  the  profef- 
fion,  or  members  of  the  trading  corporation.  This 
circumflance,  in  all  probability,  produced  the  denomi* 
nations  of  F'ree  and  Accepted  Mafons.  A  perfon 
who  has  the  privilege  of  working  at  any  incorporated 
trade,  is  faid  to  be  ^Jrttman  of  that  trade.  Others  were 
accepted  as  Brethren,  and  admitted  to  a  kind  of  honora-^ 
ry  freedom,  as  is  the  cafe  in  many  other  trades  and  in^ 
corporations,  withjout  having  (as  far  as  we  can  learn  for 
certain)  a  legal  title  to  earrj  a  livelihood  by  the  exercife 
of  it. 

The  Lodges  being  in  this  manner  frequented  by  per- 
fons of  various  profeffions,  and  in  various  ranks  of  civil 
fociety,  it  cannot  be  fuppofed  that  the  employment  in 
thofe  meetings  related  entirely  to  the  oltenfible  prcfef- 
iion  of  Mafonry.  We  have  no  authentic  information 
by  which  the  public  can  form  any  opinion  about  it.  It 
was  not  till  fome  years  after  this  period  that  the  Lodges 
made  open  profeffion  of  the  cultivation  of  general  bene- 
volence, and  that  the  grand  aim  of  the  Fraternity  was  to 
enforce  the  exercife  of  all  the  focial  virtues.  It  is  not 
unlikely  that  this  was  an  after  thought.  The  political 
purpofes  of  the  aifociation  being  once  obtained,  the 
converfation  and  occupations  of  the  members  muft  take 
fome  particular  turn,  in  order  to  be  generally  accepta- 
ble. The  eftablilhmcnt  of  a  fund  for  the  relief  of  un- 
fortunate Brethren  did  not  take  place  till  the  very  end  of 
laft  century  ;  and  we  may  prefV.ir.c  that  it  was  brought 


FREE  MASONRY.  u$ 

about  bv  the  warm  recommendations  of  fome  benevo- 
lent members,  who  would  naturally  enforce  it  by  ad- 
dreffes  to  their  alfembled  Brethren.  This  is  the  pro- 
bable origin  of  thofe  philanthropic  difcourfes  which 
w^ere  delivered  in  the  Lodges  by  one  of  the  Brethren  as 
an  official  tafk.  Brotherly  love  was  the  general  topic, 
and  this,  with  great  propriety,  when  we  confider  the  ob- 
jeB:  aimed  at  in  thofe  addrefies.  Nor  was  this  obje6l 
altogether  a  novelty.  For  while  the  manners  of  fociety 
were  yet  but  rude,  Brother  Mafons,  who  were  frequent- 
ly led  by  their  employment  far  from  home  and  from 
their  friends,  ftood  in  need  of  fuch  helps,  and  might  be 
greatly  benefited  by  fuch  an  inftitution,  which  gave  them 
introdu8:ion  and  citizenfliip  wherever  they  went,  and  a 
right  to  fhare  in  the  charitable  contributions  of  Brethren  t 
who  were  ftrangers  to  them.  Other  incorporated  trades 
had  fimilar  provifions  for  their  poor.  But  their  poor 
were  townfmen  and  neighbours,  well  known  to  them. 
There  was  more  perfuafion  neceffary  in  this  Fraternity, 
where  the  objefts"  of  our  immediate  beneficence  were 
not  of  our  acquaintance.  But  when  the  Lodges  con- 
fided of  many  who  were  not  Mafons,  and  who  had  no 
particular  claim  to  good  offices  from  a  ftranger,  and 
their  number  might  be  great,  it  is  evident  that  ftronger 
perfuaf.ons  were  now  neceffary,  and  that  every  topic  of 
philanthropy  muft  now  be  employed.  When  the  funds 
became  coafiderable,  the  elfeds  naturally  took  the 
public  eye,  and  recommended  the  Society  to  notice  and 
refpeft.  And  now  the  Brethren  were  induced  to  dwell 
on  the  fame  topic,  to  join  in  the  commendations  be- 
ftowed  on  the  Society,  and  to  fay  that  univerfal  bene- 
ficence was  the  great  aim  of  the  Order.  And  this  is  all 
that  could  be  faid  in  public,  widiout  infringing  the  obli- 
gation to   fecrecy.     The  inquifitive   are  slways  prving 

D 


0^  THE  SCHISMS  IN 

And  teazing,  and  this  is  the  only  point  on  which  a  Bro- 
ther is  at  liberty  to  fpeak.  He  will  therefore  do  it  with 
affe6lionate  zeal,  till  perhaps  he  has  heated  his  own  fan- 
cy a  little,  and  overlooks  the  inconfiftency  of  this  uni- 
verfal  beneficence  and  philanthropy  with  the  exclufive 
and  monopolizing  fpirit  of  an  AfTociation,  which  not 
only  confines  its  benevolence  to  its  own  Members  (like 
any  other  charitable  afTociation)  but  hoards  up  in  its  bo- 
fom  ineftimable  fecrets,  whofe  natural  tendency,  they 
fay,  is  to  form  the  heart  to  this  generous  and  kind  con- 
du6t,  and  infpire  us  with  love  to  all  mankind.  The 
profane  world  cannot  fee  the  beneficence  of  concealing 
from  public  view  a  principle  or  a  motive  which  fo  pow- 
erfully .induces  a  Mafon  to  be  good  and  kind.  The 
Brother  fays  that  publicity  would  rob  it  of  its  force, 
and  we  muil  take  him  at  his  word  ;  and  our  curiofity  is 
fo  much  the  more  excited  to  learn  what  are  the  fecrets 
•which  have  fo  fmgular  a  quality. 

Thus  did  the  Fraternity  conduQ  themfelves,  and  thus 
were  they  confidered  by  the  public,  when  it  was  carried 
over  from  England  to  the  continent ;  and  here,  it  is  to 
be  particularly  remarked,  that  all  our  Brethren  abroad 
profefs  to  have  received  the  Myftery  of  Free  Mafonry 
from  Britain.  This  is  furely  a  puzzle  in  the  hiftory  ; 
and  we  muft  leave  it  to  others  to  reconcile  this  with  the 
repeated  alfertions  in  Anderfon's  book  of  Conftitutions, 
"  That  the  Fraternity  exifted  all  over  the  world,"  and 
the  numberlefs  examples  which  he  adduces  of  its  exer- 
tions in  other  countries ;  nay,  with  his  repeated  aCTer- 
tions,  "that  it  frequently  was  near  perifhing  in  Britain, 
and  that  our  Princes  were  obliged  to  fend  to  France  and 
other  countries,  for  leading  men,  to  reftore  it  to  its  for- 
mer energy   among  us."     \Yc  Hiall  find  by  and  by  that 


FREE  MASONRY.  2; 

this  is  not  a  point  of  mere  hiftorical  curiofity,  but  that 
much  hinges  on  it. 

In  the  mean  time,  let  us  juft  remember,  that  the 
^lain  tale  of  Brotherly  love  had  been  polifned  up  to 
proteflations  of  univerl'al  benevolence,  and  had  taken 
place  of  loyalty  and  attachment  to  the  unfortunate  Fa- 
mily of  Stuart,  which  was  now  totally  forgotten  in  the 
Englifli  Lodges.  The  Revolution  had  taken  place,  and 
King  James,  with  many  of  his  moll  zealous  adherents, 
had  taken  refuge  in  France. 

But  they  took  Free  Mafonry  with  them  to  the  conti- 
nent, where  it  was  immediately  received  by  the  French, 
and  w^as  cultivated  with  great  zeal  in  a  manner  fuited  to 
the  tafte  and  habits  of  that  highly  polifhed  people.  The 
Lodges  in  France  naturally  became  the  rendezvous  of 
the^adhe rents  to  their  baniihed  King,  and  the  means  of 
carrying  on  a  correfpondence  with  their  friends  in  En- 
gland. At  this  time  alfo  the  Jefuits  took  a  more  aftive 
hand  in  Free  Mafonry  than  ever.  They  infmuated 
themfelves  into  the  Englifh  Lodges,  where  they  were 
carefTcd  by  the  Catholics,  who  panted  after  the  re  efta- 
bliihment  of  their  faith,  and  tolerated  by  the  Proteftant 
royalifts,  who  thought  no  concelfion  too  great  a  com- 
penfation  for  their  fervices.  At  this  time  changes  were 
made  in  fome  of  the  mafonic  fymbols,  particularly  in 
the  tracing  of  the  Lodge,  which  bear  evident  marks  of 
.Jefuitical  interference. 

It  was  in  the  Lodges  held  at  St.  Germain's  diat  the 
degree  of  Chevalier  Mafon  EcoJ'ois  was  added  to  the 
three  symbolical  degrees  of  Eiigliih  Mafonry.  The 
conftitution,  as  impoi^ted,  appeared  too  coarfe  for  the 
rehned  tafte  of  our  nei<^hbours,  and  they  muft  make 


28  The  schisms  in 

Mafonry  more  like  the  occupation  of  a  gentleman. 
Therefore,  the  Englifh  degrees  of  Apprentice,  Fellow- 
craft,  and  Mafter,  were  c?i.\\ed  fymbolical,  and  the  whole 
Fraternity  was  eonfidered  either  as  typical  of  fomething 
more  elegant,  or  as  a  preparation  for  it.  The  degrees 
afterwards  fuperadded  to  this  leave  us  in  doubt  which  of 
thefe  views  the  French  entertained  of  our  Mafonry.  But 
at  all  events,  this  rank  of  Scotch  Knight  was  called  the 
J? r/2  degree  of  the  Alafon  Parfait.  There  is  a  device 
belonging  to  this  Lodge  which  deferves  notice.  A  lion, 
wounded  by  an  arrow,  and  efcaped  from  the  (lake  to 
which  he  had  been  bound,  with  the  broken  rope  ftill 
about  his  neck,  is  reprefented  lying  at  the  mouth  of  a 
cave,  and  occupied  with  mathematical  inftruments  which 
are  lying  near  him.  A  broken  crown  lies  at  the  foot  of 
the  ftake.  There  can  be  little  doubt  but  that  this  em- 
blem alludes  to  the  dethronement,  the  captivity,  the 
efcape,  and  the  afylum  of  James  II.  and  his  hopes  of  re- 
efiablifhment  by  the  help  of  the  loyal  Brethren.  This 
emblem  is  worn  as  the  cror^et  of  the  Scotch  Knidit.  It 
is  not  very  certain,  however  when  this  degree  was  added, 
whether  immediately  after  King  James's  Abdication,  or 
about  the  time  of  the  attempt  to  fet  his  fon  on  the  Britifli 
Throne.  But  it  is  certain,  that  in  1716,  this  and  flill 
higher  degrees  of  Mafonry  were  much  in  vogue  in  the 
Court  of  France.  The  refining  genius  of  the  French, 
and  th^ir  love  of  fliow,  made  the  humble  denominations 
of  the  Englifh  Brethren  difgufting  ;  and  their  pafTion  for 
military  rank,  the  only  character  that  conneBed  them 
with  the  Court  of  an  abfolute  monarch,  made  them  adapt 
Free  Mafonry  to  the  fame  fcale  of  public  eftimation,- 
and  invent  ranks  of  Masons  Chevaliers  ornamented  with 
titles,  and  ribbands,  and  ftars.  Thefe  were  highly  re- 
lidied  by  that  vain  people  ;  and  the  price  of  receptioii, 
which  was  very  high,  became  a  rich  fund,  that  was  gene- 


FREE  masonry!  ssg 

roufly  applied  to  relieve  the  wants  ofthe  baniflied  Biitifii 
and  Irilh  adherents  of  the  unfortunate  Family  who  had 
taken  refuge  among  them.  Three  new  degrees  oi  Novice, 
Eleve^  and    Chevalier^  were  foon  added,  and  the  Par- 

fait  Ma^on  had  now  feven  receptions  to  go  through,  for 
each  of  which  a  handforae  contribution  was  made.  Af- 
terwards, when  the  firll  beneficent  purpofe  of  this  con- 
tribution ceafed  to  exift,  the  finery  that  now  glittered  in 
all  the  Lodges  made  a  (till  more  craving  demand  for  re- 
ception-money, and  ingenuity  was  fet  to  work  to  invent 
new  baits  for  the  Parfait  Ma^on.  More  degrees  of  chi- 
valry were  added,  interfperfcd   with  degrees  of  Philo- 

fophe^  Pellerin,  Clairvoyant,  &:c.  &:c.  till  fome  Pari- 
lian  Lodges  had  forty-five  ranks  of  Mafonry,  having  fif- 
teen orders  of  chivalry.  For  a  Knighthood,  with  a 
Ribband  and  a  Star,  was  a  bonne  bouche,  given  at  every 
third  ftep.  For  a  long  while  thefe  degrees  of  chivalry 
proceeded  on  fome  faint  analogies  with  feveral  orders 
of  chivalry  which  had  been  erefted  in  Europe.  All  of 
thefe  had  fome  reference  to  fome  myftical  do6lrines  of 
the  Chriftian  Church,  and  were,  in  faft,  contrivances 
ofthe  Church  of  Rome  for  fecuringj  and  extendinsj  her 
influence  on  the  laymen  of  rank  and  fortune,  whom  flie 
retained  in  her  fervice  by  thefe  play-things.  The 
Knights  Templars  of  Jeruialera,  and  the  Knights  ofthe 
Defert,  whofe  office  it  was  to  protefcl  pilgrims,  and  to 
defend  the  holy  city^  afforded  very  apt  models  for  Ma- 
fonic  mimicry,  becaufe  the  Temple  of  Solomon,  and 
the  Holy  Sepulchre,  always  fhared  the  fame  fate.  Ma- 
ny contended  do6lrines  ofthe  theologians  had  alfb  their 
Clievaliers  to  defend  them. 

In  all  this  progrefTive  mummery   we  fee  much  of  the 

hand  of  the  Jefuits,  and  it  would  feem  that  it  was  encou- 
raged by   the   church.     But  a  thing  happened   which 


8©  '  THE  SCHISMS  IN 

might  eafily  have  been  forefeen.  The  Lodges  had  be- 
come familiar  with  this  kind  of  invention  ;  the  profefled 
objeftof  many  real  Orders  of  Knighthood  was  often 
very  whimfical,  or  very  refmed  and  far-fetched,  and  it 
required  all  the  finefle  of  the  clergy  to  give  it  fome  flight 
conne6iion  with  religion  or  morality.  The  Mafons, 
protected  by  their  fecrecy,  ventured  to  go  farther.  The 
declamations  in  the  Lodges  by  the  Brother  orator,  muft 
naturally  refemble  the  compofitions  of  the  ancient  fo- 
phifts,  and  confift  of  wire-drawn  diflertations  on  tiie  fo- 
cial  duties,  where  every  thing  is  amplified  and  ftrained  to 
hyperbole,  in  their  far-fetched  and  fanciful  explanations 
of  the  fymbols  of  Mafonry.  Thus  accuftomed  to  alle- 
gory, to  fitlion,  to  fineffe,  and  to  a  fort  of  innocent  hy- 
pocrify,  by  which  they  cajoled  themfelves  into  a  notioli 
that  this  child's-play  had  at  bottom  a  ferious  and  impor- 
tant meaning,  the  zealous  champions  of  Free  Mafonry 
found  no  inclination  to  check  this  inventive  fpirit  or 
circumfcribe  its  flights.  Under  the  prote6lion  of  Ma- 
fonic  fecrecy,  they  planned  fchemes  of  a  difi^erent  kind, 
and  inilead  of  more  Orders  of  Chivalry  direfted  againft 
the  enemies  of  their  faith,  they  formed  aflbciations  in 
oppofition  to  the  ridiculous  and  oppreflfive  ceremonies 
and  fuperfi:itions  of  the  church.  There  can  be  no  doubt, 
that  in  thofe  hidden  aflemblies,  a  free  communication  of 
fentiment .  was  highly  reliflied  and  much  indulged.  It 
was  foon  fufpected  that  fuch  ufe  was  made  of  the  covert 
of  a  Mafon  Lodge  ;  and  the  church  dreaded  the  confe- 
quences,  and  endeavored  to  fupprefs  the  Lodges.  But 
in  vain.  And  Vv'hen  it  was  found,  that  even  auricular 
confeflion,  and  the  fpiritual  threatnings  of  the  church, 
could  not  make  the  Brethren  break  their  oath  of  fecre- 
cy ;  a  full  confidence  in  their  fecurity  made  thefe  free- 
thinking  Brethren  bring  forward,  with  all  the  eagernefs 
of  31  miflionary,  fuch  fentiraents  as  they  were  afraid  to 


FREE  MASONRY.  33L 

hazard  in   ordinary  fociety.     This  was  long  fufpecled ; 
but  the  rigours  of  the  church  only   ferved  to  knit  the 
Brethren  more  firmly  together,  and  provoked  them  to  a 
more  eager  exercile  of  their  bold  criticifms.     The  Lod-r 
ges  became  fchools  of  fcepticifm  and  infidelity,  and  th^ 
fpirit  of  converfion  or  profely tifm  grew  every  day  ftron- 
ger.     Cardinal  Dubois  had  before   this   time  labourecj 
with  all  his  might  to  corrupt  the  minds  of  the  courtiers, 
by  patronifmg,  dire6lly  and  indireclly,  all  fceptics  who 
were   otherwife  men  of  talents.     He  gave   the  young 
courtiers  to   underftand,  that  if  he  Ihould  obtain  the 
reins  of  government,  they  Ihould  be.  entirely  freed  froiiji 
the  bigotry  of  ..Louis    XIV.   and  the  oppreflion  of  th^ 
church,  and  Ihould  have  the  free  indulgence  of  their  in- 
clinations.    His   own   plans    were  difappointed  by  his 
death;  but  the  Regent  Orleans  was   equally  indulgent, 
■and  in  a  few  years  there  was  hardly  a  man  in  France  who 
pretended  to  knowledge  and   reflection,  who   did  not 
laugh  at  all  religion.     Amidil  the  almoft  infinite  number 
cf  publications  from  the  French  preffes,  there  is  hardly 
«.  dozen  to  be  found  whofe  author  attempts  to  vindicate 
religion  from  the   charges  of  univerfal   fuperflition  and 
falfehood.     And  it  muft  be  acknowledged  that  little  ellc 
was  to  be  feen  in  the  eftablifhed  religion  of  the  kiif^dom. 
The  people  found  nothing  in   Chriftianity  but  a  never- 
ceafing  round  of  infignificant  and  troublefome  ceremo- 
nies, which  confumed  their  time,  and  furnillied  a  fund 
for  fupporting  a  f6t  of  lordly  and  oppreffive  dignitaries, 
who  declared  in  the  plainefl  manner  their  own  difiDelief 
of  their  religion,  by  their  total  difregard  of  common  de- 
cency, by  their  continual  refidence  at  court,  and  by  ab- 
folute  negleft,  and  even  the  mod  haughty  and  oppref- 
five treatment,  of  the  only  part  of  their  order  that  took 
any  concern  about  the  religious  fentiments  of  the  nation, 
namely,  the    Cures  or  parifh-priefts.     The   monks  ap- 


32  THE  SCHISMS  IN 

peared  only  as  lazy  drones  ;  but  die  parifii-priefts  in- 
ftru6led  the  people,  vifited  the  fick,  reconciled  the  of- 
fender and  the  oft'ended,  and  M'ere  the  great  mediators 
between  the  landlords  and  their  vafiTals,  an  office  which 
endeared  tliem  more  to  the  people  than  all  the  other  cir- 
cumRances  of  their  profeflion.  And  it  is  remarkable, 
that  in  all  the  licentious  writings  and  bitter  fatyrical  tales 
of  the  philofophic  freethinkers,  fuch  as  Voltaire,  who 
never  fails  to  have  a  taunting  hit  at  the  clergy,  the  Cure 
is  generally  an  amiable  perfonage,  a  charitable  man,  a 
friend  to  the  poor  a:tid  unfortunate,  a  peace-maker,  and 
a  man  of  piety  and  worth.  Yet  thefe  men  were  kept  in 
a  ftate  of  the  mofh  flavifli  and  cruel  fubjedion  by  the 
higher  orders  of  the  clergy,  and  all  hopes  of  advance- 
ment cut  off.  Rarely,  hardly  ever,  does  it  happen, 
that  a  Cure  becomes  a  Bifliop.  Tlie  Abbes  ftep  into 
every  line  of  preferment.  When  fuch  procedure. is  ob- 
ferved  by  a  whole  nation,  what  opinion  can  be  formed 
but  that  the  whole  is  a  vile  cheat  ?  This  however  was 
the  cafe  in  France,  and  therefore  infidelity  was  almoft 
univerfal.  Nor  was  this  overftrained  freedom  or  licen- 
tioufnefs  confined  to  religious  opinions.  It  was  perhaps 
inore  naturally  directed  to  the  reltraints  arifing  from  civil 
fubonlination.  The  familiar  name  of  Brother  could  not 
but  tickle  the  fancy  of  thofe  of  inferior  rank,  when  they 
found  themfelves  fet  cheek  by  jowl  with  perfons  whom 
they  cannot  approach  out  of  doors  but  with  cautious  re- 
fped  ;  and  while  thefe  men  of  rank  have  their  pride  lul- 
led a  little,  and  perhaps  their  hearts  a  little  foftened  by 
the  flang  of  fentimental  declamation  on  the  topic  of  Bro- 
therly love  and  Utopian  felicity,  the  others  begin  to 
fancy  the  happy  days  arrived,  and  the  light  of  philan- 
thropy beaming  from  the  eaii  and  illuminating  the 
.Lodg^.  The  Garret  Pamphleteer  enjoys  his  fancied  au- 
thority as  Senior  ^Vardcn,  and  ccndufts  with  affection- 


FREE  MASONRY.  §3 

ate  folemnity  the  young  nobleman,  who  pants  for  tl^e 
honor  of  Mafteriliip,  and  he  praifes  the  'trufty  Brother 
who  has  guarded  him  in  his  perilous  journies  round  the 
room.  What  topic  of  declamation  can  be  more  agree- 
able than  the  equality  of  the  worthy  Brethren  ?  and  how 
naturally  will  the  Brother  Orator,  in  fupport  of  this  fa- 
vorite topic,  Aide  into  all  the  common-place  pictures  of 
human  fociety,  freed  from  all  the  anxieties  attending 
civil  diftin£lion,  and  palling  their  days  in  happy  (impli- 
city  and  equality.  From  this  ftate  of  the  fancy,  it  is 
hardly  a  ftep  to  defcant  on  the  propriety,  the  expedien- 
cy, and  at  laft,  the  juftice  of  this  arrangement  of  civil 
fociety  ;  and  in  doing  this,  one  cannot  avoid  taking  no- 
tice of  the  great  obftru6lions  to  human  felicity  which  w^e 
fee  in  every  quarter,  proceeding  from  the  abufes  of  thofe 
diftinftions  of  rank  and  fortune  which  have  arifen  in  the 
world  :  and  as  the  mifchiefs  and  horrors  of  fuperftition 
are  topics  of  continual  declamation  to  thofe  who  wifh  to 
throw  off  the  reftraints  of  religion  ;  fo  the  oppreffion  of 
the  rulers  of  this  world,  and  the  fufferings  of  talents  and 
worth  in  inferior  ftations,  will  be  no  lefs  greedily  liften- 
ed  to  by  all  whofe  notions  of  morality  are  not  very  pure, 
and  who  would  be  glad  to  have  the  enjoyments  of  the 
wealthy  without  the  trouble  of  labouring  for  them. 
Free  Mafonry  may  be  affirmed  to  have  a  natural  ten- 
dency to  foller  fuch  levelling  wifhes  ;  and  we  cannot 
doubt  but  that  great  liberties  are  taken  with  thofe  fub- 
je8;s  in  the  Lodges,  efpecially  in  countries  where  the 
diftinQions  of  rank  and  fortune  are  ftrongly  expreffed 
and  noticed. 

But  it  is  not  a  matter  of  mere  probability  that  the  Ma- 
fon  Lodges  werethe  feminaries  of  thefe  libertine  inftruc- 
tions.     We  have  diftind  proof  pf  it,  even  in  forae  of  the 

£ 


1^  THE  SCHISMS  IN 

French  degrees.     In  the  degree  called  the  Chevaiilr  de 
Soleil^  the  wh^k  inftru6lion  is   aimed  againft  the  efta- 
blifhed  religion  of  the  kingdom.     The  profeired  objetl 
is  the  emancipation  from   error,  and  the  difcovery  of 
truth.     The  infcription  in  the  eaft  is  SageJJ^e^  that  in  the 
north  is  Liberie^  that  in  the  fouth  is  Fermete,  and  in  the 
Veft   it  is   Caution  ;  terms   which  are  very  fignificant. 
The   Trcs   Venerable  is  Adam  ;  the  Senior  Warden  '\% 
Truth,   and  all   the   Brethren  are   Children  of  Truth* 
The  procefs  of  reception  is  very  well   contrived :  the 
whole  ritual  is  d-eCent  and  circumfpfe^^  and  nothing  oc"- 
turs  "which  can  alarm  the  molt  timid.     Brother  Truth 
is  aflved,  What  is  the  hour  ?  He  informs  Father  Adam, 
that  among  men  it  is  the  hour  of  darknefs,  but  that  it  is 
mid-day  in  the  Lodge.     The  candidate  is  afl^ed,  Why 
he  has  knocked  at  the  door,  and  what  is  become  of  the 
eight  companions   (he  is  one  of  the  ]£lus)  ?  He  fays, 
that  the  world  is  in  darknefs,  and  his  companions  and  he 
have  loft  each  other  ;  that  RefjKrus,  the  flar  of  Europe, 
is  obfcured  by  clouds  of  incenfe,  offered  up  by  fuperfti- 
tion   to  defpots,  who  have  made  themfelves  gods,  and 
have  retired  iato  the  inmoft  recefies  of  their  palaces,  that 
they  may  not  be  recognifed  to  be  men,  while  their  priefts 
.  are  deceiving  the  people,  and  cauhng  them  to  worfliip 
thefe  divinities.     This  and  many  fimilar  fentiments  arc 
evident  allufions  to  the  pernicious  doftrine  of  the  book 
called  Or/gine  dit  Defpotifme  Oriental,  where  the  religion 
of  all  countries  is  confidered  as  a  there  eihgine  of  ftate  ; 
where  it  is  declared  that  reafon  is  the  only  light  which 
nature  has   given  to  man  ;  and  that  our  anxiety  about 
futurity  has  made  us  imagine  endlefs  torments  in  a  future 
world  ;  and  that  princes,  taking  advantage  of  our  weak- 
nefs,  have  taken  the  management  of  our  hopes  and  fears, 
and   direQed  them   fo  as   to  fuit   their  ov,?n  purpofes ; 
emancipation  from  the  fear  of  death  is  declared  the 


1-REE  MASONRY.  S^ 

greated  of  all  deliverances ;  queftions  are  pot  to 'the 
candidate,  tending  to  dilcover  whether  and  how  far  he 
jnay  be  traded,  and  what  facrihces  he  is  willing  to  make 

in  i'earch  after  truth. 

* 

This  fhape  given  to  the  plaftic  myflevies  of  Mafonr-y 
was  much  reliihed,  and  in  a  very  Ihort  time  thi,s  new 
path  was  completely  explored,  and  a  new  feries  of  de- 
grees was  added  to  the  lift,  viz.  the  Novice,  and  the  Elu 
.de  la  Verite,  and  the  Suhlime  PhiLofophe.  In  the  pro- 
grcfs  through  thefe  degrees,  the  Brethren  muft  forget 
that  ihey  have  formerly  been  Chevaliers  de  I'Orient, 
Chevaliers  de  r  Aiglcy  when  the  fymbols  were  all  ex- 
plained as  typical  of  the  Ufv  and  immortality  brought  to 
light  by  the  gofpel.  Indeed  they  are  taught  to  clals  this 
among  the  other  clouds  whith  have  been  difpelled  by 
the  fun  of  reafon^  Ila'CIi  in  the  Chevukrie  dt  /'  Aigle 
there  is  a  two-fold  explanation  given  of  the  fymbols,  by 
which  a  lively  imagination  may  conceive  the  Vs^hole  hif- 
tory  and  peculiar  do^rines  of  the  New  Teftainent,  as 
being  typical  of  the  final  triumph  of  reafon  and  philofo- 
phy  over  error.  And  perhaps  this  degree  is  the  very 
iiiil  ftep  in  the  plan  of  I  l l u  m  i  mat i o  n . 

We  are  not  to  fuppofe  that  this  was  carried  to  extre- 
mity at  once.     But  it  is  certain,  that  before  1743  it  had 
become  univerfalj  and  that  the  Lodges  of  Free  Mafons 
had  become   the  places  fOr  making  profelytes  to  every 
itrange  and  obnoxious  do£lrine..     Theurgy^  Cofmogonyj^ 
Cabala^  and   many    v.-himfical   and   myftical   doctrines, 
which  have  been  grafted  on  the  di ft ingui flung  tenets  ai>d 
the  pure  morality  of  the  |ews  and  ChriiUans,  were  fub 
jetts  of  frequent  dircuffion  in  the  Lodges.     The  celebr?. 
ted  Chevalier  Ram  lay  v»'as  a  zealous  apoftle  in  this  mif 
tan.     Aifctlionarely  attached  to  the   family  of  Stuait, 


3$  THE  SCHISMS  IN 

and  to  his  native  country,  he  had  co-operated  heartily 
with  thofe  who  endeavoured  to  employ  Mafonry  in  the 
fervice  of  the  Pretender,  and,  availing  himfelf  of  the 
pre-eminence  given  (at  firft  perhaps  as  a  courtly  com- 
pHment)  to  Scotch  Mafonry,  he  laboured  to  ftiew  that 
it  exifted,  and  indeed  arofe,  during  the  Criifades,  and 
that  there  really  was  either  an  order  of  chivalry  whofe 
bufinefs  it  was  to  rebuild  the  Chriftian  churches  deftroy- 
ed  by  the  Saracens ;  or  that  a  fraternity  of  Scotch  Ma- 
fons  were  thus  employed  in  the  eaft,  under  the  protec-. 
tion  of  the  Knights  of  St.  John  of  Jerufatem.  He  found 
fome  fa8:s  which  M^ere  thought  fufficient  grounds  for 
fuch  an  opinion,  fuch  as  the  building  of  the  college  of 
thefe  Knights  in  London,  called  the  Temple,  which  was 
aftually  done  by  the  public  Fraternity  of  Mafons  who 
had  been  in  the  holy  wars.  It  is  chiefly  to  him  that  we 
are  indebted  for  that  rage  for  Mafonic  chivalry  which 
diflinguilhes  the  French  Free  Mafonry.  Ramfay's  An- 
gular religious  opinions  are  well  known,  and  his  no  lefs 
lingular  enthufiafm.  His  eminent  learning,  his  elegant 
talents,  his  amiable  charafter,  and  particularly  his  efli- 
mation  at  court,  gave  great  influence  to  every  thing  he 
faid  on  a  fubjeft  which  was  merely  a  matter  of  fafliion 
and  amufement.  Whoever  has  attended  much  to  hu- 
man affairs,  knows  the  eagernefs  with  which  men  propa- 
gate all  lingular  opinions,  and  the  delight  which  attends 
their  favorable  reception.  None  arc  more  zealous  than 
the  apoftles  of  infidelity  and  atheifm.  It  is  in  human 
nature  to  catch  with  greedinefs  any  opportunity  of  doing 
what  lies  under  general  reftraint.  And  if  our  apprehen- 
fions  are  not  completely  quieted,  in  a  cafe  where  our 
wiflies  lead  us  fl;rongly  to  fome  favorite  but  hazardous 
objed,  we  are  confcious  of  a  kind  of  felf-bullying. 
This  naturally  gets  into  our  difcourfe,  and  in  our  eager- 
nefs to  get  the  encouragement  of  joint  adventurers,  we 


FREE  xMASONRY,  37 

enforce  our  tenets  with  an  energy,  and  even  a  violence, 
that  is  very  inconfiftent  with  the  fubjecl  in  hand.  If  I 
am  an  Atheift,  and  my  neighbour  a  Theifl,  there  is  furely 
nothing  that  Ihould  make  me  violent  in  my  endeavors  to 
rid  him  of  his  error.  Yet  how  violent  were  the  people 
of  this  party  in  France. 

Thefe  fafts  and  obfervations  fully  account  for  the 
zeal  with  which  all  this  patch-work  addition  to  the  fim- 
,  pie  Free  Mafonry  of  England  was  profecuted  in  France. 
It  furprifes  us,  Britons,  who  areaccuftomed  to  confi- 
der  the  whole  as  a  matter  of  amufement  for  young  men, 
who  are  glad  of  any  pretext  for  indulging  in  convivia- 
lity. We  generally  confider  a  man  advanced  in  life  with 
Icfs  refpcft,  if  he  (hows  any  ferious  attachment  to  fuch 
.things. ,  But  in  France,  the  civil  and  religious  reftraints 
on  converfation  made  thefe  fecret  aflemblies  very  pre- 
cious ;  and  they  were  much  frequented  by  men  of  let- 
ters, who  there  found  an  opportunity  of  exprelling  in 
•  fafety  their  diffatisfaftion  with  thofe  reftraints,  and  with 
that  inferiority  of  rank  and  condition  to  which  they  were 
fubjetled,  and  which  appeared  to  themfelves  fo  inade- 
quate to  their  own  talents  and  merits.  The  Avocats  de 
Parlement,  -the  unbeneficed  Abbes,  the  young  men  of 
no  fortune,  and  the  Joi-dijant  philofophers,  formed  a 
numerous  band,  frequented  the  Lodges,  and  there  dif- 
.  culled  every  topic  of  religion  and  politics.  Specimens 
of  this  occupation  appeared  from  time  to  time  in  Collec- 
tions of  Difcourfes  delivered  by  the  Frere  Oratcur.  I 
once  had  in  my  polleffion  two  volumes  of  thefe  difcour- 
fes, which  I  now  regret  that  I  left  in  a  Lodge  on  the 
continent,  when  my  relifli  for  Free  Mafonry  had  forfa- 
ken  me.  Or.e  of  thefe  is  adiicourfe  by  Brother  Robi- 
net,.  delivered  in  the. Lo^e;  des  Chevaliers  Bienfaifants  de 
la  Sainic  Cite  at  Lyons,  at  a  vii'iiation   bv  the  Gri.nd 


^JS  THE  SCHISxMS  INT 

Mafler  the  Due  de  Charires,  afterwards  Orleans  and  £"-. 
galite.  In  this  difcourfe  we  have  the  germ  and  fiibuance 
of  his  noted  work,  the  Syjlcme  de  la  Nature,  ou  V Homme 
'moral  et  phyfique.  In  another  difcourfe,  delivered  by 
Brother  Condorcet  in  the  Loge  des  Ehilalethes  at  Straf- 
bourg,  we  have  the  outhnes  of  his  poflhumous  work, 
Le  Progres  de  rEfprit  humahi  ;  and  in  another,  deh- 
Vered  by  Mirabeau  in  the  Loge  des  Chevaliers  Bienfai-^ 
Jants  at  Paris,  we  have  a  great  deal  of  the  levelling  prin- 
ciples, and  cofmopolitifm,"^  which  he  thundered  from 
the  tribunes  of  the  National  Afiembly.  But  the  molt 
remarkable  performances  of  this  kind  are,  the  Archives 
MyJlico-Hermetiques,2i.n6.  the  Des  Erreurs,  et  de  la  VeritL 
The  firft  is  confidered  as  an  account  hiftorical  and  dog- 
matical, of  the  procedure  and  fyftcm  of  the  Loge  des 
Chevaliers  Bienfaifants  at  Lyons.  This  was  the  mod 
zealous  and  fyftematical  of  all  the  cofmopolitical  Lod- 
ges in  France.  It  worked  long  under  the  pati'onage  of 
its  Grand  Mailer  the  Due  de  Chartres,  afterwards  Or- 
leans, and  at  lad  Ph.  Egalite.  It  fent  out  many  affili- 
ated Lodges,  which  were  erefted  in  various  parts  of  the 
French  dominions.  The  daughter  Lodges  at  Paris,, 
Strafbourg,  Lille,  Thouloufe,  took  the  additional  title 
of  Philalethei'.  There  arofe  fome  fchifms,  as  may  he 
expefted,  in  an  AiTociation  where  every  man  is  encou- 
raged to  broach  and  to  propagate  any  the  moft  fingular 
opinion.  Thele  fchifms  were  continued  with  fome  heat, 
but  were  in  a  great  meafure  repaired  in  Lodges  which 
took  the  name  o^  Amis  reunis  de  la  VeritL  One  of  this 
denomination  at  Paris  became  very  eminent.  The  mother 
Lodge  at  Lyons  extended  its  correfpondence  into  Ger- 
inany,  and  other  foreign  countries,  and  fent  conflitutions 

*  Citi/enniip  of  the  World,  from  the  Greek   words   Cofm&St. 
«-orld,  and  Po/h,  a  citY. 


FREE  MASONRY.  S9 

or  fyflems,  by  which  the  Lodges   condu8.ed  their  ope- 
rations. 

I  have  not  been  able  to  trace  the  fteps  by  which  this 
Lodge  acquired  fuch  an  afcendency  ;  but  I  fee,  that  in 
1769  and  1770,  all  the  refined  or  philofophical  Lodge* 
in  Alface  and  Lorraine  united,   and   in  a  convention  at 
Lyons,  formally  put  thernfelves  under  the  patronage  of 
this  Lodge,  cultivated  a  continual  correfpondence,  and 
confidered  thernfelves  as  profeffmg  one  Mafonic  Faith, 
fufficiently  diftinguifhable  from   that  of  other  Lodges. 
What  this  was   we  do  not   very  diftinftly  know.     We 
can   only    infer  it   from  fome   hiltorical  circumftances. 
One  of  its  favorite  daughters,   the  Lodge  Theador  von 
der  guten  Rath,  at  Munich,  became  fo  remarkable   ft>r 
difcourfes  dangerous  to  church  and  ftate,  that  the  Elec- 
tor of  Bavaria,  after   repeated  admonitions  during   a 
courfe  of  five  or  fix  years,  was  obliged  to  fupprefs  it  in 
1786.     Another  of  its  fuffragan  Lodges  at  Regenfburgli 
became  exceedingly  obnoxious  to  the  ftate,  and  occafi- 
oned   fcveral  commotions  and  infurreftions.     Another, 
at  Paris,  gradually  refined  into  the  Jacobin  club — And 
in  the  year   1791,   the  Lodges  in  Alface  and  Lorraine, 
with  thofe  of  Spire  and   Worms,  invited  Cuftine  into 
Germany,  and  delivered  Mentz  into  his  hands. 

When  werefled  on  thefe  hiftorical  faBs,  we  get  fomc 
4<.ey  to  the  better  underftanding  of  the  two  performances 
which  I  mentioned  as  defcriptive  of  the  opinions  and 
occupations  of  this  fed  of  Free  Mafons.  The  Ar- 
chives Myjlico-Hermetiqncs  exhibit  a  very  ftrange  mix- 
ture of  Myfticifm,  Theofophy,  Cabaliftic  whim,  real 
Science,  Fanaticifm,  and  Freethinking,  both  in  religion 
and  politics.  They  muft  not  be  confidered  as  an  account 
of  any   fettled   fyft-emj  but  rather  as  annals  pf  the  pro- 


40  THE  SCHISMS  IN 

ceedings  of  the  Lodge,  and  abftra6ls  of  die  ftrang6 
dottrines  which  made  their  fucceflive  appearance  in 
the  Lodge.  But  if  an  intelligent  and  cautious  reader 
examine  them  attentively,  he  will  fee,  that  the  book  is 
the  w^ork  of  one  hand,  and  that  all  the  wonders  and 
oddities  are  caricatured,  fo  as  to  engrofs  the  general 
attention,  while  they  alfo  are  twifted  a  litde,  fo  that  in 
one  way  or  another  they  accord  with  a  general  fpirit  of 
licentioufnefs  in  morals,  religion,  and  politics.  Al- 
though every  thing  is  expreifed  decently,  and  with  fome 
caution  and  moderation,  atheifm,  materialifm,  and  dif- 
content  with  civil  fubordination,  pervade  the  whole.  It 
is  a  work  of  great  art.  By  keeping  the  ridicule  and  the 
danger  of  fuperftitionand  ignorance  continually  in  view, 
the  mind  is  captivated  by  the  relief  which  free  enquiry  and 
communication  of  fentiment  feems  to  fecure,  and  we  are 
put  oft  our  guard  againft  the  rifk  of  delufion,  to  which 
we  are  expofed  when  our  judgment  is  warped  by  our 
pafiions. 

The  other  book,  "  Des  Erreurs  et  de  la  Verite,"  came 
from  the  fame  fchool,  and  is  a  fort  of  holy  fcripture,  or 
at  leaft  a  Talmud  among  the  Free  Mafons  of  France. 
It  is  intended  only  for  the  initiated,  and  is  indeed  a  myf- 
tery  to  any  other  reader.  But  as  it  was  intended  for 
fpreading  the  favorite  opinions  of  fome  enthufiaftic 
Brethren,  every  thing  is  faid  that  does  notdireflly  be'tray 
the  fecrets  of  the  Order.  It  contains  a  fyftem  of  The- 
ofophy  that  has  often  appeared  in  the  writings  of  philo- 
fophers,  both  in  ancient  and  modern  times.  "  All  the 
intelligence  and  moral  fentiment  that  appears  in  the  uni- 
verfe,  either  direftly,  as  in  the  minds  of  men,  or  indireft- 
ly,  as  an  inference  from  the  marks  of  defign  that  we  fee 
around  us,  fome  of  which  fhow  us  that  men  have  afted, 
and  many  more  that  fome  other  intelligence  has  adedj 


FREE  MASONRY.  4i 

are  conGdcred  as  parts  or  portions  of  a  general  mafs  of 
intelligence  which  exifls  in   the  univerfe,  in  the  fame 
manner  as  matter  exifls  in  it.     This  intelligence  has  an 
infcrutable  connexion  with  the  material  part  of  the  uni^ 
verfe,  perhaps  refembling  the  connexion,    equally  un- 
fearchable,  that  fubfifts  between  the  mind  and  body  of 
man  ;  and  it  may  be  confidered  as  the  Soid  of  the  World. 
It  is  this  fubftance,  the  natural  object  of  wonder  and  ref- 
pe6:,  that  men  have  called  God,  and  have  made  the  ob- 
jed  of  religious  worfbip.     In  doing  fo  they  have  fallen 
into  grofs   miftakes,  and  have  created   for  themfelves 
numberlefs  unfounded  hopes  and  fears,  which  have  been . 
the  fource  of  fuperftition  and  fanaticifm,  the  moft  de- 
ftru6live  plagues  that  have  ever  afllifted  the  human  race. 
The  Soul  of  Man  is  fcparated  from  the  general  mafs  of 
intelligence  by  fome  of  the  operations  of  nature,  which 
we  fliall  never  underftand,  juft  as  water  is  raifed  from 
the  ground  by  evaporation,  or  taken  up   by  the  root  of 
a  plant.     And  as  the  water,  after  an  unfearchable  train 
of  changes,  in  which  it   fometimes    makes  part  of  a 
flower,    fometimes  part   of  an  animal,  &c.  is  at  laft 
reunited,  in  its  original  form,  to  the  great  mafs  of  wa- 
ters, ready  to  run  over  the    fame  circle  again  ;  fo  tlie 
Soul  of  Man,  after  performing  its  office,  and  exhibit- 
ing all  that  train  of  intelleftual  phenomena  that  we  call 
human  life,  is  at  laft  fwallowed  up  in  the  great  occaji  of 
intelligence."     The  author  then  breaks  out 

"  Felix  qui  potuit  rerum  cognofcere  caufas, 
Atque  metus  omr.es  et  inexorabile  fatum 
Subjecit  pedibus,  ftrepitumque  Aclierontrs  avari.'* 

For  he  has  now  got  to  his  afylum.  This  deity  of  his 
may  be  the  objeft  of  wonder,  like  every  thing  great  and 
incomprehcnfible,  but  not   of  worftiip.  as   the  iporal 

F 


aH  the  schisms  i>r 

Governor  of  the  univerfe.  The  hopes  are  at  an  end, 
which  reft  on  our  notions  of  the  immortahiy  and  indivi- 
duality of  the  hurhati  foul,  and  on  the  encouragemenfe' 
■\vhich  religion  holds  forth  to  believe,  that  improvement 
of  the  mind  in  the  courfe  of  this  life,  by  the  exercife  of 
■Wifdom  and  of  virtuous  difpofitions,  is  but  the  beginning 
of  an  endlefs  progrefs  in  all  that  can  give  delight  to  the 
ratidnal  and  well-difpofed  mind.  No  relation  now  fub- 
fifts  between  man  and  Deity  that  can  Warm  the  heart. 
But,  as  this  is  contrary  to  fome  natural  propenfity  in  the 
human  mind,  which  in  all  ages  and  nations  has  panted 
after  fome  connexion  with  Deity,  the  author  ftrives  to 
avail  himfelf  of  fome  cold  principles  of  fymmetry  in  the 
"Works  of  nature,  fome  ill-fupported  notions  of  propri- 
ety, and  other  fuch  conhderations,  to  make  this  anima 
TkuTidi  an  objeft  of  love  and  refpeft.  This  is  done  in 
greater  detail  in  another  work.  Tableau  des  rapports  en- 
fre  r Homme,  Dieu,  et  rUnivers,  which  is  undoubtedly 
by  the  fame  hand.  But  the  intelligent  reader  will  rea- 
dily fee,  that  fuch  incongruous  things  canhot  be  recon- 
ciled, and  that  we  can  expert  nothing  here  but  fophiftry. 
The  author  proceeds,  in  the  next  place,  to  confider 
man  as  related  to  man,  and  to  trace  out  the  path  to  hap- 
pinefs  in  this  life.  H^re  we  haVe  the  fame  overftrained 
morality  as  in  the  other  work,  thd  fafne  univerfal  bene- 
volence, the  fame  lamentations  oVcr  the  miferable  ftate 
of  mankind,  refulting  fronfi  the  opprefiTion  of  the  power- 
ful, the  great  ones  of  the  earth,  who  have  combined 
againfl;  the  happinefs  of  mankind,  and  have  fucceeded, 
by  debafing  their  minds,  fo  that  they  have  become  wil- 
ling flaves.  This  could  not  have  been  brought  about 
without  the  affiftance  of  fuperftition.  But  the  princes 
of  this  world  enlilled  into  their  fervice  the  pricfts,  who 
exerted  themfelves  in  darkening  the  imderltandings  of 
men,  and  filled  their  minds  with  religious  terrors.     The 


FREE  MASONRY. 


43. 


altar  became  the  chief  pillar  of  the  thrQne,  and  men 
were  held  in  complete  fubje6lion.  Nothing  can  recover 
them  from  this  abjeftftate  but  knowledge.  While  this 
difpels  their  fears,  it  will  alfo  fliow  them  their  rights, 
and  the  way  to  attain  them. 

It  deferves  particularly  to  be  remarked,  that  this  fyf- 
tem  of  opinions  (if  fuch  an  inconfiftent  mafs  of  affertions 
can  be  called  a  fydem)  bears  a  great  refemblance  to  a 
performance  of  Toland's,  publiflied  in  1720,  called 
Pantheijiicon,  feu  ^Celcbratio  Sodalitii  Socratici.  It  is 
an  account  of  the  principles  of  a  Fraternity  which  he 
calls  Socratica,  and  the  Brothers  Pantheiftae.  They  are 
fuppofed  to  hold  a  Lodge,  and  the  author  gives  a  ritual 
of  the  procedure  in  this  Lodge  ;  the  ceremonies  of  open- 
ing and  (hutting  of  the  Lodge,  the  admiflion  of  Mem- 
bers into  its  different  degrees,  Sec.  Reafon  is  the  Sun 
that  illuminates  the  whole,  and  Liberty  and  Equality 
are  the  objcfts  of  their  occupations. 

Wc  fliall  fee  afterwards  that  this  book  was  fondly  pufii- 
ed  into  Germany,  tranflated,  commented,  and  mifre- 
prefented,  fo  as  to  take  off  the  attention  from  the  real 
fpirit  of  the  book,  which  is  intentionally  wrapped  up  in 
cabala  and  enigma.  Mirabeau  was  at  much  pains  to 
procure  it  notice  ;  and  it  mufl  therefore  be  confidered 
as  a  treafure  of  the  cofmo-political  opinions  of  the  Affo- 
ciation  of  Chevaliers  Bienfai/anti,  FhilaUihes^  and  Amis 
Reunis,  who  were  called  the  im.proved  Lodges,  work- 
ing under  the  D.  de  Chartres — of  thele  there  were  266 
in  1784.  This  will  be  found  a  very  important  remark. 
Let  it  alfo  be  recolletled  afterwards,  that  this  Lodge  of 
Lyons  fent  a  deputy  to  a  grand  Convention  in  Germ.a- 
ny  in  1772,  viz.  Mr.  WiUeniiooz,  and  that  the  bulinei's 


44,  THE  SCHISMS  IN 

■was  thought  of  fuch  importanccj  that  he  remained  there 
two  years. 

The  book  Des  Erreurs  et  de  la  Verite^  muft  therefore 
be  confidered  as  a  claffical  book  of  thefe  opinions.  We 
know  that  it  originated  in  the  Logc  des  Chev.  Bien/aifants 
at  Lyons.  We  know  that  this  Lodge  ftood  as  it  were 
at  the  head  of  French  Free  Mafonry,  and  that  the  fi6ti- 
tious  Order  of  Mafonic  Knights  Templars  was  formed 
in  this  Lodge,  and  was  confidered  as  the  model  of  all 
the  reft  of  this  mimic  chivalry.  They  proceeded  fo  far 
in  this  mummery,  as  even  to  have  the  clerical  tonfure. 
The  Duke  of  Orleans,  his  fon,  the  Elector  of  Bavaria, 
and  fome  other  German  Princes,  did  not  fcruple  at  this 
mummery  in  their  own  perfons.  In  all  the  Lodges  of 
reception,  the  Brother  Orator  never  failed  to  declaim 
on  the  topics  of  fuperftition,  blind  to  the  exhibition  he 
was  then  making,  or  indifferent  as  to  the  vile  hypocrify 
of  it.  We  have,  in  the  lifts  of  Orators  and  Office- 
bearers, many  names  of  perfons,  who  have  had  an  op- 
portunity at  laft  of  proclaiming  their  fentiments  in  pub- 
lic. The  Abbe  Sieyes  was  of  the  Lodge  of  Philalethes 
at  Paris,  and  alfo  at  Lyons.  Lequinio,  author  of  the 
moft  profligate  book  that  ever  difgraced  a  prefs,  the 
Prcjuges  vaincus  par  la  Ra?fo?if  was  warden  in  the 
Lodge  Compatie  So  dale.  Defpremenil,  Bailly,  Fau- 
chet,  Maury,  Mounier,  were  of  the  fame  fyftem,  though 
in  different  Lodges.  They  were  called  Martinifts.  from 
a  St.  Martin,  who  formed  a  fchifm  in  the  fyftem  of  the 
Chevaliers  Bienfaijants^  of  which  we  ha\e  not  any  very 
precife  account.  Mercier  gives  fome  account  of  it  in 
his  Tableau  de  Paris,  and  in  his  Annee  1888.  The 
breach  alarmed  the  Brethren,  and  occa honed  great  heats. 
But  it  was  healed,  and  the  Fraternity  took  the  name  of 
Mifa  du  Renis;  which  is  an  anagram  of  des  Arv^is  Rrdnis, 


FREE  MASOJviRY.  4'5 

The  Bifiiop  of  Autun,  the  man  fo  bepraifed  as  the  be- 
nevolent Citizen  of  the  World,  the  friend  of  mankind 
and  of  good  order,  was  Senior  Warden  of  another  Lodge 
at  Paris,  eftablifhed  in  1786  (I  think  chiefly  by  Or- 
leans and  himfelf)  which  afterwards  became  the  Jacobin 
Club.  In  fhort,  we  may  affert  with  confidence,  that 
the  Mafon  Lodges  in  France  were  the  hot-beds,  where 
the  feeds  were  foon,  and  tenderly  reared,  of  all  the  per- 
nicious do6lrines  which  foon  after  choaked  every  moral 
or  religious  cultivation,  and  have  made  the  Society 
worfe  than  a  wafte,  have  made  it  a  noifome  marfli  of  hu- 
man corruption,  filled  with  every  rank  and  poifonous 
weed. 

Thefe  Lodges  were  frequented  by  perfons  of  all 
ranks,  and  of  every  profeffion.  The  idle  and  the  frivo- 
lous found  amufement,  and  glittering  things  to  tickle 
their  fatiated  fancies.  There  they  became  the  dupes  of 
the  declamations  of  the  crafty  and  licentious  Abbes,  and 
writers  of  every  denomination.  Mutual  encouragement 
in  the  indulgence  of  hazardous  thoughts  and  opinions 
which  flatter  our  wilhes  or  propenfities  is  a  lure  which 
few  minds  can  refift.  I  believe  that  moft  men  have  felt 
this  in  fome  period  of  their  lives.  I  can  find  no  other 
way  of  accounting  for  the  company  that  I  have  fome- 
times  feen  in  a  Mafon  Lodge.  The  Lodge  de  la  Pdr- 
Jaite  Intelligence  2ii  Liege,  contained,  in  December  1770, 
the  Prince  Bifliop,  and  the  greatell  part  of  his  Chapter, 
and  all  the  Office-bearers  were  dignitaries  of  the  church ; 
yet  a  difcourfe  given  by  the  Brother  Orato^r  was  as  poig- 
nant a  fatire  on  fuperftition  and  credulity,  as  if  it  had 
been  written  by  Voltaire.  It  was  under  the  aufpices  of 
this  Lodge  that  the  colleftion  of  difcourfes,  which  I 
ineniioned  above,  was  publiflied,  and  there  is  no  fault 
found  with   Brother  Robinet,  nor  Brother  Condorcet. 


,46  THE  SCHISMS  IX 

Indeed  the  Trefonciers   of  Liege  were  proverbial  even 
Jn  Brabant,  for  their  Epicurifm  in  the  moft  extenfive 
fenfe  of  the  word. 


Thus. was  corruption  fpread  over^the  kingdom  under 
J  the  mafk  of  moral  inftru6lion.  For  thefe  difcourfes  were 
.full  of  the  moft  refined  and  ftrained  morality,  and  florid 
_ paintings  of  Utopian   felicity,  in  a  ftate  where   all  are 
Brothers  and  citizens  of  the  world.     But  alas  !  thefe 
wire-drawn  principles  feem  to  have  had  little  influenc^e 
on  the  hearts,  even  of  thofe  who  could  beft  difplay  their 
beauties.     Read  the  tragedies  of  Voltaire,  and  fome  of 
his   grave   performances  in  profe — What  man  is  there 
who  feems   better  to  know  his  Mafter's  will  ?  No  man 
rcxpreffes  with  more  propriety,  with  more  exa6inefs,  the 
feelings  of  a  good  mind.     Nc  man  feems  more  fenfibJe 
of  the  immutable  obligation  of  jullice  and  of  truth.     Yet 
this  man,  in  his  tranfa6lions  with  his  book-fellers,   with 
:  the  very  men  to  whom  he  was  immediately  indebted  for 
.  his  affluence  and  his  fame,  was  repeatedly,  nay,  incef- 
fantly,  guilty  of  the  meaneft,  the  vileft  tricks.     When  he 
fold  a  work  for  an  enormous  price  to  one  book-feller 
,  (even  to  Cramer,  whom  he  really  refpefted)  he  took  cajre 
.  that  a  furreptitious  edition  fliould  appear  in  Holland,  al- 
jnoft  at  the  fame  moment.     Proof-flieets  have  been  tra- 
ced from    Fcrney   to  Amfterdam.     When  a  friend  pf 
Cramer's  expoftulated  with  Voltaire  on  the  injuftice  of 
this  conduB,  he  faid,  grinning.  Oh  le  bon  Cramer — eh 
hien — il  7i'a  que  d'etre  du  parti — he  may  take  a  fliare — 
he  will  not  give  me  a  livre  the  lefs  for  the  firft  piece  I 
offer  him.     Where  fliall  we   fee  more  tendernefs,  more 
honor,  more  love  of  every  thing  that  is  good  and  fair, 
than  in    Diderot's    Pere  dc   Familk. — Yet  this  man  did 
not  fcruple  to  fell  to  the  Emprefs  of  Ruflia  an  immenfe 
library,  which  he  did  notpoflefs.  for  an  enormous  pnce. 


FREE  MASONRY.  i^ 

having  got  her  promife  that  it  fiiould  remain  in  his  pof- 
feffion  in  Paris  during  his  life.  When  her  ambafiador 
wanted  to  fee  it,  after  a  year  or  two's  payments,  and  the 
vifitation  could  be  no  longer  ftaved  off,  Diderot  was- 
obliged  to  fet  off  in  a  hurry,  and  run  through  all  the- 
book-fellers  fhops  in  Germany,  to  help  him  to  fill  his' 
empty  fhelves.  He  had  the  good  fortune  to  fave  ap> 
pearances — but  the  trick  took  air,  becaufe  he  had  been' 
niggardly  in  his  attention  to  the  ambaffador's  fecretary. 
This,  however,  did  not  hinder  him  from  honoring  his 
imperial  pupil  with  a  vifit.  He  expeded  adoration,  as 
the  light  of  the  world,  and  was  indeed  received  by  the 
Ruffian  courtiers  with  all  the  childifli  fondnefs  that  they 
feel  for  every  Parifian  mode.  But  they  did  not  under- 
ftand  him,  and  as  he  did  not  like  to  lofe  money  at  play, 
they  did  not  long  court  his  company.  He  found  his 
pupil  too  clearlighted.  Ces  philofophes,  faid  fhe,  yb«/ 
bcaitx^  vus  de  loin  ;  mats  de  plus  pres^  le  diartiant  parait 
tryjldl.  He  had  contrived  a  poor  ftory,  by  which  he 
hoped  to  get  his  daughter  married  in  parade,  and  porti- 
oned by  her  Majefly — but  it  was  feen  through,  and  h^l 
was  difapfointed. 

When  we  fee  the  inefficacy  of  this  refined  humanity 
on  thefe  two  apoflles  of  philofophical  virtue,  we  fee 
ground  for  doubting  of  the  propriety  arid  expediency  of 
iruflirig  entirely  to  it  for  the  peace  and  happinefs  of  a 
ftate,  and  we  fhould  be  on  our  guard  when  we  liflcn  to 
the  florid  fpeeches  of  the  Brother  Orator,  and  his  con- 
gratulations on  the  emancipation  from  fuperftition  and 
bppreffion,  which  will  in  a  fhort  time  be  effe6luated  by 
Yhe  Chevaliers  Bienjaifanti,  the  Philahthes,  ox  ^.ny  oiht'v 
(eel  of  cofmo-political  Brethren.  ' 


48  THE  SCHISMS  IN 

1  do  not  mean  by  all  this  to  maintain,  that  the  Mafon 
Lodges  vere  the  Ible  corrupters  of  the  public  mind  in 
France. — No. — In  all  nations  that  have  made  much  . 
progrefs  in  cultivation,  there  is  a  great  tendency  to  cor-  - 
ruption,  and  it  requires  all  the  vigilance  and  exertions 
of  magiftrates,  and  of  moral  inftru6lors,  to  prevent  the  • 
fpreading  of  licentious  principles  and  maxims  of  con- 
du6l.  They  arife  naturally  of  themfelves,  as  weeds  in 
a  rich  foil ;  and,  like  weeds,  they  are  pernicious,  only 
becaufe  they  are,  where  they  fhould  not  be,  in  a  culti- 
vated field.  Virtue  is  the  cultivation  of  the  human 
foul,  and  not  the  mere  pofTcffion  of  good  difpofitions  ; 
all  men  have  thefe,  and  occafionly  exhibit  them.  But 
virtue  fuppofes  exertion  ;  and,  as  the  hufbandman  muft 
be  incited  to  his  laborious  taflv  by  fome  cogent  motive, 
fo  muft  man  be  prompted  to  that  exertion  which  is  ne- 
ceflary  on  the  part  of  every  individual  for  the  very  ex- 
iflence  of  a  great  fociety  :  For  man  is  indolent,  and  he 
is  luxurious;  he  wiflies  for  enjoyment,  and  this  with 
little  trouble.  The  lefs  fortunate  envy  the  enjoyments 
of  others,  and  repine  at  their  own  inability  to  obtain  the 
like.  They  fee  the  idle  in  affluence.  Few,  even  of 
good  men,  have  the  candour,  nay,  I  may  call  it  the 
wifdom,  to  think  on  the  a6livity  and  the  labour  which 
had  procured  thefe  comforts  to  the  rich,  or  to  their  an- 
ceftors  ;  and  to  believe  that  they  are  idle  only  becaufe 
they  are  wealthy,  but  would  be  a6live  if  they  were  nee- 
dy. Such  fpontaneous  refle8.ions  cannot  be  expelled 
in  perfons  who  are  engaged  in  unceafmg  labour,  to  pro- 
cure a  very  moderate  fhare  (in  their  eftimation  at  leaftj 
of  the  comforts  of  lif6.  Yet  fuch  reflexions  w^ould,  in 
the  main,  bejuft,  and  farely  they  would  greatjy  tend  to 
quiet  the  miuds  of  the  unfuccefsfuU 


FREE  MASONRY.  ^ 

This  excellent  purpofe  may  be  greatly  forwarded  by 
a  national  eftablilhment  for  moral  inftrii6tion  and  admo- 
nition ;  and  if  the  public  inftru8;ors  fliould  add  all  the 
motives  to  virtuous  moderation  which  are  fuggefted  by 
the  confiderations  of  genuine  religion,  every  advice 
would  have  a  tenfold  influence.  Religious  and  moral 
inftruclions  are  therefore,  in  their  own  nature,  unequi- 
vocal fupports  to  that  moderate  exertion  of  the  authority 
ariiing  from  civil  fubordination,  which  the  mod  refined 
philanthropift  or  cofmopolite  acknowledges  to  be  necef- 
fary  for  the  very  exiftence  of  a  great  and  cultivated  fo- 
ciety.  I  have  never  feen  a  fcheme  of  Utopian  happinefs 
that  did  not  contain  fome  fyftem  of  education,  and  I 
cannot  conceive  any  fyftem  of  education  of  which  mo- 
ral inftruftion  is  not  a  principal  part.  Such  eftablifh- 
ments  are  di6lates  of  nature,  and  obtrude  themfelves  on 
the  mind  of  every  perfon  who  begins  to  form  plans  of 
civil  union.  And  in  all  exifting  focieties  they  have  in- 
deed been  formed,  and  are  confidered  as  the  greateft 
corrector  and  foother  of  thofe  difcontents  that  are  una- 
voidable in  the  minds  of  the  unfuccefsful  and  the  unfor- 
tunate. The  magiftrate,  therefore^  whofe  profeffional 
habits  lead  him  frequently  to  exert  himfelf  for  the  main- 
tenance of  public  peace,  cannot  but  fee  the  advantages 
of  fuch  ftatcd  remembrancers  of  our  duty.  He  will 
therefore  fupport  and  cherifti  this  public  eftablifhment, 
which  fo  evidently  affifts  him  in  his  beneficent  and  im- 
portant labours. 

Bat  all  the  evils  of  fociety  do  not  fpring  from  the  dif- 
contents and  the  vices  of  the  poor.  The  rich  come  in 
for  a  large  and  a  confpicuous  fliare.  They  frequently 
abufe  their  advantages.  Pride  and  haughty  behaviour 
©ii  their  part  rankle  in  the  breaftsj  and  affed  the  tempers 

G 


*^ 


THE  SCHISMS  IN 


of  their  inferiors,  already  fretted  by  the  hardfhips  of  their 
own  condition.  The  rich  alfo  are  luxurious ;  and  ar;e 
often  needy.  Grafpin^  at  every  mean  of  gratification, 
they  are  inattentive  to  the  rights  of  inferiors  whom  thev 
.defpife,  and,  defpifing,  opprefs.  Perhaps  their  own  fu- 
periority  has  been  acquired  by  injuftice.  .Perhaps  mod 
fovereignties  have  been  acquired  by  oppreffion.  Prin- 
ces and  Rulers  are  but  men  ;  as  fuch,  they  abufe  many 
of  their  greateft  bleffings.  Obferving  that  religions 
hopes  make  the  good  refigned  under  the,  hardfhips  of  the 
prefent  fcene,  and  that  its  terrors  frequently  reftrain  the 
bad  ;  they  avail  themfelves  of  thefe  obfervations,  and 
fupport  religion  as  an  engine  of  ftate,  and  a  mean  of 
their  own  fecurity.  But  they  are  not  contented  with  its 
real  advantages ;  and  they  are  much  more  afraid  of  the 
refentment  and  the  crimes  of  the  offended  profligate, 
than  of  the  murmurs  of  the  fuffering  worthy.  There- 
fore they  encourage  fuperftition,  and  call  to  their  aid 
the  vices  of  the  priellhood.  The  priefts  are  men  of  like 
palTions  as  other  men,  and  it  is  no  ground  of  peculiar 
blame  that  they  alfo  frequently  yield  to  the  temptations 
of  their  fituation.  They  are  encouraged  tp  the  indul- 
gence of  the  love  of  influence  natural  to  all  men,  arid 
they  heap  terror  upon  terror,  to  fubdue  the  minds  of 
men,  and  darken  their  underftandings.  Thus,  the  moft 
honorable  of  all  employments,  the  moral  iriftruBion  of 
the  ftate,  is  degraded  to  a  vile  trade,  and  is  praclifed 
with  all  the  deceit  and  rapacity  of  any  other  trade  ;  and 
religion,  from  being  the  honor  and  the  fafeguard  of  a 
nation,  becomes  its  greateft  difgrace  and  curfe. 

When  a  nation  has  fallen  into  this  lamentable  ftate,  it 
is  extremely  difticult  to  reform.  Although  nothing 
would  fo  immediately  and  fo  completely  remove  ^11 
ground  of  complaint^  as  the  re-eftabJiihing  private  vir- 


FR£E  masonry.  J'i 

t^c,  this  is  of  all  others  the  leaft  likely  to  be  adopted. 
The  really  worthy,  who  fee  the  mifchief  where  it  really 
is,  but  who  view  this  life  as  the  fchool  of  improvement, 
and  know  that  man  is  to  be  made  perfeft  through  fuf- 
fering,  are  the  lad  perfons  to  complain.  The  worthlefs 
are  the  mod  difcontented,  the  moft  noify  in  their  com- 
plaints, and  the  leaft  fcrupulous  about  the  means  of  re- 
drefs.  Not  to  improve  the  nation,  but  to  advance  them- 
felves,  they  turn  the  attention  to  the  abufes  of  power 
and  influence.  And  they  begin  their  attack  where  they 
think  the  place  moft  defencelefs,  and  where  perhaps  they 
expeft  aftiftance  from  a  difcontented  garrifon.  They 
attack  fuperftition,  and  are  not  at  all  folicitous  that  true 
„ religion  fhall  not  fuffer  along  with  it.  It  is  not,  per- 
haps, with  any  direO:  intention  to  ruin  the  ftate,  but 
merely  to  obtain  indulgence  for  themfelves,  and  the  co- 
operation of  the  wealthy.  They  expeft  to  be  liftened 
to  by  many  who  wifti  for  the  fame  indulgence  ;  and  thus 
it  is  that  religious  free-thinking  is  generally  the  firft  ftep 
of  anarchy  and  revolution.  For  in  a  corrupted  ftate, 
perfons  of  all  ranks  have  the  fame  licentious  wifhes,  and 
if  fuperftitious  fear  be  really  an  ingredient  of  the  human 
mind,  it  requires  fome  firuggle  to  fhake  it  off.  No- 
thing is  fo  effeftual  as  mutual  encouragement,  and 
therefore  all  join  againft  prieftcraft ;  even  the  rulers 
forget  their  intereft,  which  fhould  lead  them  to  fupport 
it.  In  fuch  a  ftate,  the  pure  morality  of  true  religioa 
vanifties  from  the  fight.  There  is  commonly  no  re- 
mains of  it  in  the  religion  of  the  nation,  and  therefore 
all  goes  together. 

Perhaps  there  never  was  a  nation  where  all  thofe  co- 
operating caufes  had  acquired  greater  ftrength  than  in 
France.  Oppreflions  of  all  kinds  were  at  a  height. 
The  luxuries  of  life  were  enjoyed  exclufively  by  the 


'Q%  THE  SCHISMS  IN 

upper  clafles,  and  this  in  the  higheft  degree  of  reline- 
ment ;  fo  that  the  defires  of  the  reft  were  whetted  to  the 
utmoft.  Religion  appeared  in  its  worft  form,  and  feem- 
ed  calculated  folely  for  procuring  eftablifhments  for  the 
younger  fons  of  the  infolent  and  ufelefs  nobleffe.  The 
morals  of  the  higher  orders  of  the  clergy  and  of  the  laity 
were  equally  corrupted.  Thoufands  of  literary  men 
were  excluded  by  their  ftation  from  all  hopes  of  advance- 
ment to  the  more  refpeftable  offices  in  the  church. 
Thefe  vented  their  difcontents  as  far  as  there  was  fafety, 
and  were  encouraged  by  many  of  the  upper  claffes,  who 
joined  them  in  their  fatires  on  the  priefthood.  The 
clergy  oppofed  them,  it  is  true,  hut  feebly,  becaufe 
they  could  not  fupport  their  oppoi;tion  by  examples  of 
their  own  virtuous  behaviour,  but  were  always  obliged 
to  have  recourfe  to  the  power  of  the  church,  the  very 
objeft  of  hatred  and  difguft.  .  The  whole  nation  became 
infidel,  and  when  in  a  few  inftances  a  worthy  Cure  ut- 
tered the  fmall  ftill  voice  of  true  religion,  it  was  not 
heard  amidft  the  general  noife  of  fatire  and  reproach. 
The  mifconduftof  adminiftration,  and  the  abufe  of  the 
public  treafures,  were  every  day  growing  more  impu- 
dent and  glaring,  and  expofed  the  government  to  con- 
tinual Criticifm.  But  it  was  ftill  too  powerful  to  fuffer 
this  to  proceed  to  extremities  ;  while  therefore  infidelity 
and  loofe  fentiments  of  morality  pafted  unpunifhed,  it 
"was  ftill  very  hazardous  to  publifti  any  thing  againft  the 
ilate.  It  was  in  this  refpect  chiefly,  that  the  Mafon 
Lodges  contributed  to  the  diftemination  of  dangerous 
opinions,  and  they  were  employed  for  this  purpofe  all 
over  the  kingdom.  This  is  not  an  afiertion  hazarded 
merely  on  account  of  its  probability.  Abundant  proof 
■will  appear  by  and  by,  that  the  moft  turbulent  charac- 
ters in  the  nation  frequented  the  Lodges.  We  cannot 
doubt,  but  that  under  this  covert  they  indulged  ihdr 


FREE  MA-SONRY:  55 

fa6lious  ■difpondons ;  nay,  we  fhall  find  the  greateft  part 
of"  the  Lodges  of  France,  converted,  in  the  courfe  of  a 
very  few  weeks,  into  correfponding  political  focieties. 

But  it  is  now  time  to  turn  our  eyes  to.  the  progrefs  of 
Free  Mafonry  in  Germany  and  the  north  of  Europe  ; 
there  it  took  a  more  ferious  turn.  Free  Mafonry  was 
imported  into  Germany  fomewhat  later  than  into  France. 
The  firft  German  Lodge  that  we  have  any  account  of,  is 
that  at  Cologne,  erected  in  1716,  but  very  foon  fup* 
prefled.  Before  the  year  1725  there  were  many,  both, 
in  Proteftant  and  Catholic  Germany.  Thofe  of  Wetz- 
iar,  Frankfort  on  the  Mayne,  Brunfwick,  and  Ham- 
burg, are  the  oldeft,  and  their  priority  is  doubtful.  All 
of  them  received  their  inflitution  from  England,  and 
had  patents  from  a  mother  Lodge  in  London.  All  ieem 
to  have  got  the  myllery  through  the  fame  channel,  the 
banifhed  friends  of  the  Stuart  family.  Many  of  thefe 
were  Catholics,  and  entered  into  the  fervice  of  Auilria 
and  the  Catholic  princes. 

The  true  hofpitality,  that  is  no  where  more  confpi- 
cuous  than  in  the  character  of  the  Germans,  made  this 
inflitution  a  moft  agreeable  and  ufeful  paifport  to  thefe 
gentlemen  ;  and  as  many  of  them  were  in  military  (la- 
tions,  and  in  garrifon,  they  found  it  a  very  eafy  matter 
to  fetup  J^odges  in  all  parts  of  Germany.  Thefe  af- 
forded a  very  agreeable  paftime  to  the  officers,  who  had 
little  to  occupy  them,  and  were  already  accuilorned  to 
a  fubordination  which  did  not  affetl  their  vanity  on  ac- 
count of  family  cliftinftions.  As  the  Eniign  and  thp 
General  were  equally  gentleuKn,  the  allegory  or  play  of 
univerfal  Brotherhood  was  neither  novel  nor  diigulting. 
Free  Mafonry  was  then  of  the  fimpleit  form,  conlilling 
of  the  three  degrees  of  Apprentice,  Fellow-cralt,  and 


54  THE  SCHISMS  IH 

MaPter.  It  is  remarkable,  that  the  Germans  had  been 
long  accuftomed  to  the  word,  the  fign,  and  the  gripe  of 
the  Mafons,  and  fome  other  handicraft  trades.  In  ma- 
ny parts  of  Germany  there  was  a  diftinftion  of  opera- 
tive Mafons  into  Wort-Maurers  and  Schrift-Maurers, 
The  Wort-Maurers  had  no  other  proof  to  give  of  theii: 
having  been  regularly  brought  up  to  the  trade  of  build- 
ers, but  the  word  and  figns  ;  the  Schrift-Maurers  had 
written  indentures  to  fhew.  There  are  extant  and  in 
force,  borough-laws,  enjoining  the  Maftersof  Mafons 
to  give  employment  to  journeymen  who  had  the  proper 
words  and  fign.  In  particular  it  appears,  that  fome  ci- 
ties had  more  extenlive  privileges  in  this  rcfpetl  than 
others.  The  word  given  at  Wetzlar,  the  feat  of  the 
great  council  of  revifion  for  the  empire,  entitled  the  pof- 
felfor  to  work  over  the  whole  empire.  We  may  infer 
from  the  proceffes  and  decifions  in  fome  of  thofe  muni- 
cipal courts,  that  a  mafter  gave  a  word  and  token  for 
each  year's  progrefs  of  his  apprentice.  He  gave  the 
■word  of  the  incorporated  Imperial  city  or  borough  on 
which  he  depended,  and  alfo  a  v/ord  peculiar  to  himfelf, 
by  which  all  his  own  pupils  could  recognife  each  other. 
This  mode  of  recognifance  was  probably  the  only  docu- 
ment of  education  in  old  times,  while  writing  was  con- 
fined to  a  very  fmall  part  of  the  community.  When 
we  refled  on  the  nature  of  the  German  empire,  a  confe- 
deration of  fmall  independent  dates,  we  fee  that  this 
profeffion  cannot  keep  pace  with  the  other  mechanic  arts, 
unlefs  its  pra£litioners  arc  inveited  with  greater  privile- 
ges than  others.  Their  great  works  exceed  the  ftrength 
of  the  immediate  neighbourhood,  and  the  workmen 
muft  be  brought  together  from  a  diftance.  Their  affo- 
ciation  muft  therefore  be  more  cared  for  by  the  public. 


FREE  MASONRY.  55 

When  Englifh  Free  Mafonry  was  carried  into  Ger- 
many, it  was  hofpitably  received.  It  required  little  ef- 
fort to  give  it  refpeftability,  and  to  make  it  the  occupa- 
tion of  a  gentleman,  and  its  fecrets  and  myfteries  were 
not  fuch  novelties  as  in  France.  It  fpread  rapidly,  and 
the  fimple  topic  of  Brotherly  love  was  fufficient  for  re- 
commending it  to  the  honeft  and  hofpitable  Germans. 
But  it  foon  took  a  very  different  turn.  The  German 
charafter  is  the  very  oppofite  of  frivolity.  It  tends  to 
ferioufnefs,  and  requires  ferious  occupation.  The  Ger- 
mans are  eminent  for  their  turn  for  inveftigation  ;  and 
perhaps  they  indulge  this  to  excefs.  We  call  them 
plodding  and  dull,  becaufe  we  have  little  relifh  for  en- 
quiry for  its  own  fake.  But  this  is  furely  the  occupa- 
tion of  a  rational  nature,  and  defcrves  any  name  butftu- 
pidity.  At  the  fame  time  it  mull  be  acknowledged,  that 
the  fpirit  of  enquiry  requires  regulation  as  much  as  any 
propenfity  of  the  human  mind.  But  it  appears  that  the 
Germans  are  not  nice  in  their  choice  of  their  objeds ; 
it  appears  that  iingularity,  and  wonder,  and  difficulty  of 
refearch,  are  to  them  irrefiftible  recommendations  and 
incitements.  They  haive  always  exhibited  a  ftrong  hank- 
ering after  every  thing  that  is  wonderful,  or  folemn,  or 
terrible  ;  and  in  fpite  of  the  great  progrefs  which  men 
have  made  in  the  courie  of  thefe  two  laft  centuries,  in 
the  knowledge  of  nature,  a  progrefs  too  in  which  we 
Ihould  be  very  unjull  if  we  did  not  acknowledge  that 
the  Germans  have  been  generally  in  the  foremoft  ranks, 
the  grofs  abfurdities  of  magic,  exorcifm,  witchcraft,  for- 
tune-telling, tranfmutation  of  metals,  and  univerfal  me- 
dicine, have  always  had  their  zealous  partizans,  who 
have  liftened  with  greedy  ears  to  the  nonfenfe  and 
jargon  of  fanatics  and  cheats  ;  and  though  they  every 
day  faw  examples  of  many  who  had  been  ruined  or  ren- 
deied  ridiculous  by  their  credulity,  every  new  pietender 


56'  THE  SCHISMS  IN" 

to  fecrets  found  numbers  ready  to  liften  to  him,  and  to 
run  over  the  fame  courfe. 

Free  MafonryjprofeffingmyfterieSjinftantly  roufedall 
thefe  people, and  the  Lodges  appeared  to  the  adventurers 
V'ho  wanted  to  profit  by  the  enthufiafm  or  the  avarice  of 
-their  dupes,  the  fitteft  places  in  the  world  for  the  fcene 
of  their  operations.     The  Rofycrucians  were  the  firft 
who  availed  themfelves  of  the  opportunity.     This  was 
not  the  Society  which  had  appeared  formerly  under  that 
name,  and  was  now  extinft ;  but  a  fet  of  Alchymifts,  pre- 
tenders to  the  tranfmutation  of  metals  and  the  univerfal 
medicine,  who,  the  better  to  inveigle  their  votaries,  had 
mixed  with  their  own  tricks  a  good  deal  of  the   abfurd 
fupcrftitions  of  that  fetl,  in  order  to  give  a  greater  air  of 
my  fiery  to  the  whole,  to  protract  the  time  of  inftrutiion, 
and  to  afford  more  room  for  evqfions,  by  making  fo  ma- 
ny difficult  conditions  neceffary  for  perfefting  the  grand 
work,  that  the  unfortunate  gull,  W'ho  had  thrown  away 
his   time  and  his  money,  might  believe  diat  the  failure 
was  owing   to  his  own  incapacity  or  unfitnefs  for  being 
the  pofTelTor  of  the  grand    fecret.     Thefe  cheats  found 
it  convenient  to  make  iMafonry  one  of  their  conditions, 
and  by  a  fmall  degree  of  art,  perfuaded  their  pupils  that 
they   were  the  only  true  Mafons.     Thefe    Rofycrucian 
Lodges  w^ere  foon  eflabliflred,  and  becam.e  numerous, 
becaufe  their  myfteries  were  addreffed,  both  to  the  cu- 
riofity,  the  fenfuality,  and  the  avarice  of  men.     They 
became  a  veiy  formidable  band,  adopting  the  conftitu- 
tion  of  the  Jefuits,  dividing  the   Fraternity  into  circles, 
each  under  the  management  of  its  own  fuperior,  known 
to  the  prefident,  but  unknown  to  the  individuals  of  the 
Lodges.     Thefe    fuperiors   were  conne8:ed  with  each 
other  in  a  w^ay  known  only  to  themfelves,  and  the  whole 
vas  under  one  General.     At  lead  this  is  the  account 


FREE  MASONRY.  57 

v.'hich  they  wifli  to  be  believed.  If  it  be  juft,  nothing 
but  the  abfurdity  of  the  oftenfible  motives  of  their  occu- 
pations could  have  prevented  this  combination  from 
carrying  on  fchemes  big  with  hazard  to  the  peace  of  the 
world.  But  the  Rofycrucian  Lodges  have  always  been 
confidered  by  other  Free  Mafons  as  bad  Societies,  and 
as  grofs  fchifmatics.  This  did  not  hinder,  however,  their 
alchemical  and  medical  fecrets  from  being  frequently 
introduced  into  the  Lodges  of  fimple  Free  Mafonry  ; 
and  in  like  manner,  exorcifm,  or  ghoft-raifing,  magic, 
and  other  grofs  fuperftitions,  were  often  held  out  in 
their  meetings  as  attainable  myfteries,  which  would  be 
immenfe  acquifitions  to  the  Fraternity,  without  any  ne- 
cefTity  of  admitting  along  with  them  the  religious  deliri- 
ums of  the  Rofycrucians. 

In  1743,  a  Baron  Hunde,  a  gentleman  of  honorable 
chara6ler   and   independent  fortune,  was   in  Paris,  and 
got  acquainted  with  the  Earl  of  Kilmarnock  and    fome 
other  gentlemen   who   were  about  the  Pretender,   and 
learned  from  them  that  they  had  fome  wonderful  fecrets 
in  their  Lodges.   He  was  admitted,  through  the  medium 
of  that  nobleman,  and  of  a  Lord  Clifford,  and  his  Ma- 
fonic  patent  was  figned  George  (faid  to  be  the  fignature 
of  Kilmarnock).      Hunde  had  attached   himfelf  to    the 
fortunes  of  the  Pretender,  in  hopes  (as  he  fays  himfelf) 
of  rifmg  in  the  world  under  his  prote61ion.     The  migh- 
ty fecret  was  this.    "  When  the  Order  of  Knights  Tem- 
plars was  aboliflied  by  Philip  the  Fair,  and  cruelly  per- 
fecutcd,  fome  worthy  perfons  efcaped,  and  took  refuge 
.  in   the    Highlands  of   Scotland,  where   they   concealed 
.  themfelves  in   caves.     Thefe  perfons   poflefTed  the  true 
fecrets  of   Mafonry,  which  had  always  been  in   that  Or- 
.  der,  having  been  acquired  by  the  Knights,  during  their 
.      ,  H 


58-  THE  SCHISMS  IN 

fervices  in  the  Eaft,  from  the  pilgrims  whom  they  occa- 
fionally  prote6led  or  delivered.  The  Chevaliers  de  la 
Rofe-Croix  continued  to  have  the  fame  duties  as  for- 
merly, though  robbed  of  their  emoluments.  In  fine, 
every  true  Mafon  is  a  Knight  Templar."  It  is  very 
true  that  a  clever  fancy  can  accommodate  the  ritual  of 
reception  of  the  Chevalier  de  /'  Epee,  Sec.  to  fomething 
like  the  inftitution  of  the  Knights  Templars,  and  per- 
haps this  explanation  of  young  Zerobabel's  pilgrimage, 
and  of  the  rebuilding  of  the  Temple  by  Ezra,  is  the 
moft  fignificant  explanation  that  has  been  given  of  the 
meagre  fymbols  of  Free  Mafonry. 

When  Baron  Hunde  returned  to  Germany,  he  exhi- 
bited to  fome  friends  his  extenfive  powers  for  propagat- 
ing this  fyftem  of  Mafonry,  and  made  a  few  Knights. 
But  he  was  not  very  aftive.  Probably  the  failure  of  the 
Pretender  s  attempt  to  recover  the  throne  of  his  anceftors 
had  put  an  end  to  Hunde's  hopes  of  making  a  figure. 
In  the  mean  time  Free  Mafonry  was  cultivated  with 
zeal  in  Germany,  and  many  adventurers  found  their  ad- 
vantage in  fupporting  particular  fchifms. 

But  in  1756,  or  1757,  a  complete  revolution  took 
place.  The  French  officers  who  were  prifoners  at 
large  in  Berlin,  undertook,  with  the  aifurance'  peculiar 
to  their  nation,  to  inftru6l  the  fimple  Germans  in  every 
thing  that  embellifhes  fociety.  They  faid,  that  the 
homefpun  Free  Mafonry,  which  had  been  imported 
from  England,  was  fit  only  for  the  unpolifhed  minds  of 
the  Britifii ;  but  that  in  France  it  had  grown  into  an 
elegant  fyftem,  fit  for  the  profeffion  of  Gendemen. 
Nay,  they  faid,  that  the  Engliili  were  ignorant  of  true 
Mafonry,  and  poffefied  nothing  but  the  introdudion  to 
it ;  and  even  this  was  not  underftood  by  them.     When 


FREE  MASONRY.  59 

the  ribbands  and  ftars,  widi  which  the  French  had  orna- 
mented the  Order,  were  fhown  to  the  Gernjans,  they 
could  not  refift  the  enchantment.  A  Mr.  Rofa,  a  French 
commifTary,  brought  from  Paris  a  complete  waggonr 
load  of  Mafonic  ornaments,  which  were  all  diftributed 
before  it  had  reached  Berlin,  and  he  was  obliged  to  or- 
der another,  to  furniili  the  Lodges  of  that  city.  It  be.- 
came  for  a  while  a  mod  profitable  bufmefs  to  many 
French  officers  and  commifiaries  difperfed  over  Germa- 
ny, having  nothing  elfe  to  do.  Fvery  body  gaped  for 
inftruclion,  and  thefe  kind  teachers  were  always  ready 
to  beftow  it.  In  half  a  year  Free  Mafonry  underwent 
a  complete  revolution  all  over  Germany,  and  Cheva- 
liers multiplied  without  number.  The  Rofaic  fyftem 
was  a  gofpel  to  the  Mafons,  and  the  poor  Britifh  fyf- 
tem was  defpifed.  But  the  new  Lodges  of  Berlin,  as 
they  had  been  the  teachers  of  the  whole  empire,  want- 
ed alfo  to  be  the  governors,  and  infilled  on  complete 
fubjeftion  from  all  the  others.  This  ftartled  the  Free 
Mafons  at  a  diftance,  and  awaked  them  from  their  gol- 
den dreams.  Now  began  a  ftruggle  for  dominion  and  for 
independency.  This  made  the  old  Lodges  think  a  little 
about  the  whole  affair.  The  refult  of  this  was  a  coun- 
ter revolution.  Though  no  man  could  pretend  diat  he 
underftood  the  true  meaning  of  Free  Mafonry,  its  ori- 
gin, its  hiftory,  or  its  real  aim,  all  faw  that  the  interpre- 
tations of  their  hieroglyphics,  and  the  rituals  of  the  new 
degrees  imported  from  France,  were  quite  gratuitous. 
It  appeared,  therefore,  that  the  fafeft  thing  for  them 
was  an  appeal  to  the  birth-place  of  Mafonry.  They 
fent  to  London  for  inftruclions.  There  they  learned, 
that  nodiing  was  acknowledged  for  genuine  unibphifti- 
cated  Mafonry  but  the  three  degrees  ;  and  that  the  mo- 
ther Lodge  of  London  alone  could,  by  her  inllruclions, 
prevent  the   moll  dangerous  fcihifjii^   and  mnovations. 


1^0  THE  SCHISMS  IN 

Many  Lodges,  therefore,  applied  for  patents  and  in- 
ftru6lions.  Patents  were  eadly  made  out,  and  molt 
willingly  fent  to  the  zealous  Brethren  ;  and  thefe  were 
thankfully  received  and  paid  for.  But  inftru6lion  was 
not  fo  eafy  a  matter.  At  that  time  we  had  nothing  but 
the  book  of  conftitutions,  drawn  up  about  1720,  by 
Anderfon  and  Defaguilliers,  two  perfons  of  little  edu- 
cation, and  of  low  manners,  who  had  aimed  at  little 
miore  than  making  a  pretext,  not  altogether  contempti- 
ble, for  a  convivial  meeting.  This,  however,  was  re- 
ceived with  refpeft.  We  are  apt  to  fmile  at  grave  men's 
being  fatished  with  fuch  coarfe  and  fcanty  fare.  But  it 
was  of  ufe,  merely  becaufe  it  gave  an  oftenfible  reafon 
for  refilling  the  defpotifm  of  the  Lodges  of  Berlin.  Se- 
veral refpe6lable  Lodges,  particularly  that  of  Frankfort 
on  the  Mayne,  that  of  Brunfwick,  that  of  Wetziar,  and 
the  Royal  York  of  Berlin,  reiblutely  adhered  to  the 
lEnglifti  fyftem,  and  denied  themfelves  all  the  enjoyment 
of  the  French  degrees,  rather  than  acknowledge  the  fu- 
premacy  of  the  Rofaic  Lodges  of  Berlin, 

About  the  year  1764  a  new  revolution  took  place. 
An  adventurer,  who  called  himfelf  Johnfon,  and  paf- 
fed  himfelf  for  an  Englifhman,  but  who  was  really  a 
German  or  Bohemian  named  Leucht,  faid  that  he  was 
ambaflador  from  the  Chapter  of  Knights  Templars  at 
Old  Aberdeen  in  Scodand,  fent  to  teach  the  Germans 
•what  was  true  Mafonry.  He  pretended  to  tranfmute 
metals,  and  fome  of  the  Brethren  declared  that  they  had 
feen  him  do  it  repeatedly.  This  reached  Baron  Hunde 
and  brought  back  all  his  former  enthufiafm.  There  is 
fomething  very  dark  in  this  part  of  the  hiftory  ;  for  in  a 
little  Johnfon  told  his  partifans  that  the  only  point  he 
had  to  inform  them  of  was,  that  Baron  Hunde  was  the 
Grand  Mafter  of  the  7th  province  of  Mafonry,  which 


FREE  MASONRY.  6i 

included  the  whole  of  Germany,  and  the  royal  domi- 
nions of  Prufiia.  He  ftiov.'ed  them  a  map  of  the  Mafo- 
nic  Empire  arranged  into  provinces,  each  of  which  had 
diRinCTuifhinff  emblems.  Thefe  are  all  taken  from  an 
old  forgotten  and  infignificant  book,  Typotii  Symbola 
Divina  et  Humana^  publillied  in  1601.  There  is  not 
the  leaft  trace  in  this  book  either  of  Mafonry  or  Temp- 
lars, and  the  emblems  are  taken  out  without  the  fmalleit 
ground  of  fele6lion.  Some  inconiillency  with  the  for- 
mer magnificent  promifes  of  Johnfon  ftartlcd  them  at 
firft,  but  they  acquiefced  and  fubmitted  to  Baron  Hunde 
as  Grand  Mafter  of  Germany.  Soon  after  Johnfon 
turned  out  to  be  a  cheat,  efcaped,  was  taken,  and  put 
in  prifon,  where  he  died.  Yet  this  feems  not  to  have 
ruined  the  credit  of  Baron  Hunde.  He  ereited  Lodges, 
gave  a  few  fimple  inftru6lions,  all  in  the  fyftem  of  En- 
glifh  Mafonry,  and  promifed,  that  when  they  had  ap- 
proved themfelves  as  good  Mafons,  he  would  then  im- 
part the  mighty  fecret.  After  two  or  three  years  of  no- 
viciate, a  convention  was  held  at  Altenbcrg  ;  and  he 
told  them  that  his  whole  fecret  was,  that  every  true  Ma- 
Jon  was  a  Knight  Templar.  They  were  altonilhcd,  and 
difappointed ;  for  they  expefted  in  general  that  he  would 
teach  them  the  philofopher's  (tone,  or  gholl-raiiing,  or 
magic.  After  much  difcontent,  falling^  out,  and  dif- 
pute,  many  Lodges  united  in  this  fyftem,  made  fome- 
what  moderate  and  palatable,  under  the  name  of  the 
Strict  Disciplinarians,  .SYrzci^fji  Obfervanz.  It 
was  acceptable  to  many,  becaufe  they  iniilted  that  they 
were  really  Knights,  properly  confecrated,  though  with- 
out temporalities  ;  and  they  ferioufly  fet  themfelves 
about  forming  a  fund  which  (hould  fecure  the  order  in  a 
landed  property  and  revenue,  which  would  give  them  a 
refpeftable  civil  exiftence.  Hunde  declared  that  his 
whole   ellatc   fhould  devolve  on  the  Order.     But  the 


fa  THE  SCHISMS  IN 

vexations  which  he  afterwards  met  with,  and  his  falling 
in  love  wuh  a  lady  who  prevailed  on  him  to  become  Ro- 
man Catholic,  made  him  alter  this  intention.  The  Or- 
der went  on,  however,  and  acquired  confiderable  cre- 
dit by  the  ferious  regularity  of  their  proceedings  ;  and, 
although  in  the  mean  time  a  new  apolile  of  Myileries,  a 
Dr.  Zinzendoiff,  one  of  the  Strict  Obfervanz,  intro- 
duced a  new  fyftem,  which  he  faid  was  from  Sweden, 
diftmguiflied  by  fome  of  the  myftical  doarines  of  the 
Swedenborgh  feci,  and  though  this  fyftem  obtained  the 
Royal  patronage,  and  a  National  Lodge  was  eftabliflied 
at  Berlin  by  patent,  {till  the  Tempelorden,  or  Orden  da 
Striclen  Obfervanz,  continued  to  be  very  refpeftable. 
The  German  gentry  were  better  pleafed  with  a  Grand 
Mafter  of  their  own  choohng,  than  with  any  impofed  on 
them  by  authority. 

,  During  this  flate  of  things,  one  Stark,  a  Proteftant 
divine,  well  known  in  Germany  by  his  writings,  made 
another  trial  of  public  faith.  One  Gugomos  (a  pri- 
vate gentleman,  but  who  would  pafs  for  fon  to  a  King 
of  Cyprus)  and  one  Schropfer,  keeper  of  a  coffee- 
houfe  at  Nuremberg,  drew  crowds  of  Free  Mafons 
around  them,  to  learn  ghoft-raihng,  exorcifm,  and  al- 
chymy.  Numbers  came  from  a  great  diftance  to  Weif- 
bad  to  fee  and  learn  thefe  myfteries,  and  Free  Mafonry 
was  on  the  point  of  another  revolution.  Dr.  Stark  was 
an  adept  in  all  thefe  things,  and  contended  with  Cagli- 
oitro  in  Coarland  for  the  palm  of  fuperiority.  He  faw 
that  this  deception  could  not  long  ftand  its  ground. 
He  therefore  came  forward, at  a  convention  at  Braunfch- 
weig  in  1772,  and  faid  to  the  Stria  Difciplinarians  or 
Templars,  That  he  was  of  their  Order,  but  of  the  fpi- 
ritual  department,  and  was  deputed  by  the  Chapter  of 
K— m— d— t  in  Scotland,  where  he  was  Chancellor  pf 


FREE  MASONRY,  63 

the  Congregation,  and  had  the  name  of  Archidemides, 
Eqiies  ab  Aquilafulva  :     That  this  Chapter  had  the  fu- 
perintendance   of  the   Order :     That  they  alone  could 
confecrate  the  Knights,  or  the  unknown  fuperiors;  and 
that  he  was  deputed  to  inflru6i  them  in  the  real  princi- 
ples of  the  Order,  and   impart  its    ineftimable  fecrets, 
which    could  not  be  known   to    Baron   Hunde,  as   he 
would  readily   acknowledge  when  he   fhould   converfe 
with  him.     Johnfon,  he   faid,  had   been   a  cheat,  and 
probably  a  murderer.     He   had   got   fome   knowledge 
from  papers  which  he  muft  have  ftolen   from  a  mifTio- 
nary,  who  had   difappeared,  and  was  probably   killed. 
Gugomos  and  Schropfer  mud  have  had  fome  hmilar  in- 
formation ;  and  Schropfer  had  even  deceived  him  for  a 
tim.e.     He  was  ready  to  execute  his  commiffion,  upon 
their  coming  under  the  neceffary  obligations  of  fecrccy 
and  of  fubmiffion.      Hunde   (whofe  name  in  the   Order 
was  the  Eques  ab  E'njc)  acquiefced  at  once,  and  propo- 
fed  a  convention,  with  full  powers  to  decide  and  accepr. 
But  a,  Schubart,  a   gentleman   of  charafler,  M'ho  was 
treafurer  to  the   Templar  Mafons,  and  had  an  employ- 
ment which  crave  him  confiderable  influence  in  the  Or- 
der,  ftrongly  diffuaded  them  from  fuch  a  meafure.   The 
moft  unqualified  fubmiffion  to  unknown  fuperiors,    and 
to  conditions   equally  unknown,  was  required  previous 
to  the   fmalleft  communication,  or   any  knowledge   of 
the  powers  which  Archidemides  had  to  treat  with  them. 
Many    meetings   were  held,  and  m.any  attempts  were 
made  to  learn  fomething  of  this  fpiritual   court,  and  of 
what  they  might  expeO:  from   diem.     Dr.  Stark,  Baron 
Weggenfak,  Baron  Von  Raven,  and    fome  others  of 
his  coadjutors  in  the  Lodges  at   Koningfnerg  in  Pruffia, 
and  at»Wifmar,  were  received  into  the  Order.     But  in 
vain — nothing  was  obtained  from  thefc  ghoflly  Knights 
but  fome   infignificant  ceremonials  of  rGceptions  add 


64  THE  SCHISMS  IN 

confccrations.  Of  this  kind  of  novelties  they  were  al- 
ready heartily  fick  ;  and  though  they  all  panted  after 
the  expeftcd  wonders,  they  were  fo  much  frightened 
by  the  unconditional  fubmifTion,  that  they  could  come 
to  no  agreement,  and  the  fecrets  of  the  Scotch  Congre- 
gation of  K — m — d — t  ftill  remain  with  Dr.  Stark. 
They  did,  however,  a  fenhble  thing;  they  fent  a  depu- 
tation to  Old  Aberdeen,  to  enquire  after  the  caves 
where  their  venerable -my  fteries  where  known,  and  their 
treafures  were  hid.  They  had,  as  they  thought,  me- 
rited fome  more  confidence  ;  for  they  had  remitted  an- 
nual contributions  to  thefe  unknown  fuperiors,  to  the 
amount  of  fome  thoufands  of  rix-dollars.  But  alas, 
their  ambafladors  found  the  Free  Mafons  of  Old  Aber- 
deen ignorant  of  all  this,  and  as  eager  to  learn  from  the 
ambaffadors  what  was  the  tnie  origin  and  meaning  of 
Free  Mafonry,  of  which  they  knew  nothing  but  the 
limple  tale  of  Old  Hiram.  This  broke  Stark's  credit; 
but  he  ftill  infifted  on  the  reality  of  his  commiffion,  and 
faid  that  the  Brethren  at  Aberdeen  were  indeed  ignorant, 
but  that  he  had  never  faid  otherwife;  their  expeftations 
from  that  quarter  had  refted  on  the  fcraps  purloined  by 
Johnfon.  He  reminded  them  of  a  thing  well  known  to 
themfelves ;  that  one  of  them  had  been  fent  for  by  a  dy- 
ing nobleman  to  receive  papers  on  this  fubjeft,  and  that 
his  vifit  having  been  delayed  a  few  hours  by  an  unavoid- 
able accident,  he  found  all  burnt  but  a  fragment  of  a 
capitulary  and  a  thing  in  cypher,  part  of  which  he  (Dr. 
Stark)  had  explained  to  them.  They  had  employed 
another  gentleman,  a  H.  Wachter,  to  make  fimilar  en- 
quiries in  Italy,  where  Schropfer  and  others  (even 
Hunde)  had  told  them  great  fecrets  were  to  be  obtained 
from  the  Pretender's  fecretary  Approfi,  and  others. 
Wachter  told  them,  th&t  all  this  was  a  fi8ion,  but  that 
he  had  feen  at   Florence  fome  Brethren  from  the  HoJy 


FREE  MASONRY.  65 

Land,  who  really  pofleffed  wonderful  fecrets,  which  he 
was  willing  to  impart,  on  proper  conditions.  Thefe, 
however,  they  could  not  accede  to  ;  but  they  were  cru- 
elly tortured  by  feeing  Wachter,  who  had  left  Germa- 
ny in  fober  circumftances,  now  a  man  of  great  wealth 
and  expence.  He  would  not  acknowledge  that  he  had 
got  the  fecret  of  gold-making  from  the  Afiatic  Brethren; 
but  faid  that  no  man  had  any  right  to  afl^  him  how  he 
had  come  by  his  fortune.  It  was  enough  that  he  be- 
haved honorably,  and  owed  no  man  any  thing.  He 
broke  off  all  connexions  with  them,  and  left  them  in 
great  diftrefs  about  their  Order,  and  panting  after  his 
fecrets.     Rifum  tcneatis  amici. 

Stark,  in  revenge  for  the  oppofition  he  had  met  with 
from  Schubart,  left  no  ftone  unturned  to  hurt  him  with 
his  Brethren,  and  fucceeded,  fo  that  he  left  them  in  dif^ 
guft.  Hunde  died  about  this  time.  A  book  appeared, 
called.  The  Stumbling  Block  and  Rock  of  Ojfence^  which 
betrayed  (by  their  own  confeflion)  the  whole  fecrets  of 
the  Order  of  Templars,  and  foon  made  an  end  of  it, 
as  far  as  it  went  beyond  the  fimple  Englifti  Mafonry. 

Thus  was  the  faith  of  Free  Mafons  quite  unhinged  in 
Germany.  But  the  rage  for  myfteries  and  wonder  was 
not  in  the  leaft  abated  ;  and  the  habits  of  thefe  fecret  af- 
femblies  were  becoming  every  day  more  craving.  Dif- 
fenfion  and  fchifm  was  multiplying  in  every  quarter  ; 
and  the  Inllitution,  inftead  of  being  an  incitement  to 
mutual  complaifance  and  Brotherly  love,  had  become  a 
fource  of  contention,  and  of  bitter  enmity.  Not  fatis- 
fied  with  defending  the  propriety  of  its  own  Inftitutions, 
each  Syllem  of  Free  Mafonry  was  bufy  in  enticing  away 
thepartifans  of  other  Syflems,  fhut  their  Lodges  againfi 

I 


fe  THE  SCHISMS  IN 

each  other,  and  proceeded  even   to  viHfy  and  perfccute 
the  adherents  of  every  Syftem  but  their  own. 

Thefe  animofities  arofe  chiefly  from  the  quarrels 
about  precedency,  and  the  arrogance  (as  it  was  thought) 
of  the  patent  Lodge  of  Berlin,  in  pretending  to  have 
any  authority  in  the  other  parts  of  the  Empire.  But 
thefe  pretenfions  were  not  the  refult  of  mere  vanity. 
The  French  importers  of  the  new  degrees,  always  true 
to  the  glory  of  their  nation,  hoped  by  this  means  to  fe- 
cure  the  dependence  even  of  this  frivolous  Society;  per- 
haps they  might  forefee  political  ufes  and  benefits  which 
might  arife  from  it.  One  thing  is  worth  notice  :  The 
French  Lodges  had  all  emanated  from  the  great  Confe- 
deration under  the  Duke  de  Chartres,  and,  even  if  we 
had  no  other  proof,  we  might  prefume  that  they  would 
cultivate  the  fame  principles  that  chara6lerifed  that  Seft. 
But  we  are  certain  that  infidelity  and  laxity  of  moral 
principles  were  prevalent  in  the  Rofaic  Lodges,  and 
that  the  obfervation  of  this  corruption  had  offended  many 
of  the  fober  oldfafhioned  Lodges,  and  was  one  great 
caufe  of  any  check  that  w^as  given  to  the  brilliant  Ma- 
fonry  of  France.  It  is  the  obfervation  of  this  circum- 
ftance,  in  which  they  all  refembled,  and  which  foon 
ceafed  to  be  a  diftinftion,  becaufe  it  pervaded  the  other 
Lodges,  that  induced  me  to  expatiate  more  on  this  hif- 
tory  of  Free  Mafonry  in  Germany,  than  may  appear  to 
my  readers  to  be  adequate  to  the  importance  of  Free 
Mafonry  in  the  general  fubj eft-matter  of  thefe  pages. 
But  I  hope  that  it  will  appear  in  the  courfe  of  my  nar- 
ration that  I  have  not  given  it  greater  value  than  it  de- 
ferves. 

About  this  very  time  there  was  a  great  revolution  of 
the  public  mind  in  Germany,  and  fcepticifra,  infidelity,. 


FREE  MASONRY.  Bf 

andirreligion,  not  only  were  prevalent  in  the  minds  and 
manners  of  the  wealthy  and  luxurious,  and  of  the  pro^ 
fligate  of  lower  ranks,  but  began  to  appear  in  the  prd- 
du6lions  of  the  prefs.  Some  circumftances,  peculiar  to 
Germany,  occafioned  thefe  declenfrons  from  the  former 
acquiefcence  in  the  faith  of  their  forefathers  to  become 
more  uniform  and  remarkable  than  they  would  other- 
wife  have  been.  The  Confeffions  of  Germany  are  the 
Roman  Catholic,  the  Lutheran  (which  they  call  Pro- 
teftant)  and  the  Calvinift  (which  they  call  Reformed}. 
Thefe  are  profeffed  in  many  fmall  contiguous  principa- 
lities, and  there  is  hardly  one  of  them  in  which  all  the 
three  have  not  free  exercife.  The  delire  of  making; 
profelytes  is  natural  to  all  (erious  profelfors  of  a  rational 
faith,  and  was  frequently  exercifed.  The  Roman  Ca- 
tholics are  fuppofed  by  us  to  be  particularly  zealous  ; 
and  the  Proteftants  (Lutherans  and  Calvinilts)  wem 
careful  to  oppofe  them  by  every  kind  of  argument, 
among  which  thofe  of  ridicule  and  reproach  were  not 
fpared.  The  Catholics  accufed  them  of  infidelity  re- 
fpefting  the  fundamental  doftrines  of  Chriftianity  which 
they  profeffed  to  believe,  and  even  with  refpeft  to  the 
■doftrines  of  natural  religion.  This  accufation  was  long 
very  flightly  fupported  ;  but,  of  late,  by  better  proofs. 
The  fpirit  of  free  inquiry  was  the  great  boaft  of  the  Pro- 
teftants, and  their  only  fupport  againft  the  Catholics, 
fecuring  them  both  in  their  religious  and  civil  rights. 
It  was  therefore  fupported  by  their  governments.  It  is 
not  to  be  wondered  at  that  it  fhould  be  indulged  toex- 
cefs,  or  improperly,  even  by  ferious  men,  liable  to  er- 
ror, in  their  difputes  with  the  Catholics.  In  the  pro- 
grefs  of  this  conteft,  even  their  own  ConfefTion  did  not 
efcape  criticifm,  and  it  was  alferted  that  the  Reforma- 
tion which  thofe  ConfelTions  exprefs  was  not  complete, 
i'urther  Reformations  were  propofed.     The  Scriptures^ 


^  THE  SCHISMS  LV 

the  foundation  of  our  faith,  were  examined  by  clergjf- 
men  of  very  different  capacities,  difpofitions,  and  views, 
till  by  explaining,  correding,  allegorifing,  and  other- 
wife  twifting  the  Bible,  men's  minds  had  hardly  any  thing 
left  to  reft  on  as  a  doftrine  of  revealed  religion.  This 
encoyraged  others  to  go  farther,  and  to  fay  that  revela- 
tion was  a  folecifm,  as  plainly  appeared  by  the  irrecon- 
cileable  differences  among  thefe  Enlighteners  (fo  they 
were  called)  of  the  public,  and  that  man  had  nothing  to 
truft  to  but  the  diftates  of  natural  reafon.  Another  fet 
of  writers,  proceeding  from  this  as  a  point  already  fet- 
tled, profcribed  all  religion  whatever,  and  openly  taught 
the  doftrines  of  materialifm  and  atheifm.  Moft  of 
thefe  innovations  were  the  work  of  Proteftant  divines, 
from  the  caufes  that  I  have  mentioned.  Teller,  Semler, 
Eberhardt,  Leffing,  Bahrdt,  Riem,  and  Shultz,  had 
the  chief  hand  in  all  thefe  innovations.  But  no  man 
contributed  more  than  Nicholai,  an  eminent  and  learn- 
ed bookfeller  in  Berlin.  He  has  been  for  many  years 
the  publiftier  of  a  periodical  work,  called  the  General 
German  Library  (Algemcin  deutfche  Biblicdhck)  confift- 
ing  of  original  diflertations,  and  reviews  of  the  writings 
of  others.  The  great  merit  of  this  work,  on  account  of 
many  learned  diflertations  which  appear  in  it,  has  pro- 
cured it  great  influence  on  that  clafs  of  readers  whofe  lei- 
fure  or  capacity  did  not  allow  them  a  more  profound 
kind  of  reading.  This  is  the  bulk  of  readers  in  every 
country.  Nicholai  gives  a  decided  preference  to  the 
writings  of  the  Enlighteners,  and  in  his  reviews  treats 
them  with  particular  notice,  makes  the  public  fully  ac- 
quainted with  their  works,  and  makes  the  mofi:  favora- 
ble comments  ;  whereas  the  performances  of  their  oppo- 
nents, or  more  properly  fpeaking,  the  defenders  of  the 
National  Creeds,  are  negleBed,  omitted,  or  barely  men- 
tionedj  or  they  are  criticifcd  with  every  feverity  of  ridi- 


FREE  MASONRY.  69 

ciile  and  reproach.  He  fell  upoa  a  very  fare  method 
of  rendering  the  orthodox  v/riters  difa^^reeabie  to  tke 
public,  by  reprefenting  them  as  the  abetters  of  fuperfti- 
tioR,  and  as  fecret  Jefuits.  lie  allerts,  that  the  aboli- 
tion of  the  Order  of  Loyola  is  only  apparent.  The 
Brethren  ftill  retain  their  connc6tion,  and  mod  part  of 
their  property,  under  the  fecret  patronage  of  Catholic 
Princes.  They  are,  therefore,  in  every  corner,  in  every 
habit  and  chara6ier,  working  with  unwearied  zeal  for 
the  reftoration  of  their  empire.  He  raifed  a  general 
alarm,  and  made  a  journey  through  Germany,  hunting 
for  Jefuits,  and  for  this  purpofe,  became  Free  Mafon 
and  Rofycrucian,  being  introduced  by  his  friends  Ge- 
dicke  and  Biefler,  clergymen,  publifhers  of  the  Berlin 
Monatfchrift,  and  molt  zealous  promoters  of  the  new 
doctrines.  This  favor  he  has  repaid  at  his  return,  by 
betraying  the  myfterics  of  the  Lodges,  and  numberlefs 
falfehoods.  His  journey  was  publi Hied  in  feveral  vo- 
lumes, and  is  full  of  frightful  Jefuitifms.  This  man,  as 
I  have  faid,  found  the  greatefl  fuccefs  in  his  method  of 
flandering  the  defenders  of  Bible-Chriflianity,  by  repre- 
fenting them  as  concealed  Jefuits.  But,  not  contented 
with  open  difcuffion,  he  long  ago  publilhed  a  fort  of 
romance,  called  Sebaldus  Noihanker,  in  which  thefe  di- 
vines are  introduced  under  feigned  names,  and  made 
as  ridiculous  and  deleflable  as  poiTible.  All  this  v*fas  a 
good  trading  job  ;  for  fceptical  and  free-thinking  wri- 
tings have  every  where  a  good  market ;  and  Nicholai 
was  not  only  reviewer,  but  publiilier,  having  preli'es  in 
different  cities  of  the  Empire.  The  immenfe  literary 
manufa61:urc  of  Germany,  far  exceeding  that  of  any  na- 
tion of  Europe,  is  carried  on  in  a  very  particular  way. 
The  books  go  in  fheets  to  the  great  fairs  of  Leipfic  and 
Frankfort,  nvice  a-year.  The  book lellers. meet  there, 
and  fee  at  one  glance  the  Rate  of  literature  ;  and  having 


yo  THE  SCHISMS  IM 

fpeculated  and  made  their  bargains,  the  books  are  in- 
itantly  difperfed  through  every  part  of  the  Empire,  and 
appear  at  once  in  all  quarters.  Although  every  Princi- 
pality has  an  officer  for  iicenfmg,  it  is  impoffible  to  pre- 
vent the  currency  of  a  performance,  although  it  may  be 
prohibited  ;  for  it  is  to  be  had  by  the  carrier  at  three  or 
four  miles  diflance  in  another  Hate.  By  this  mode  of 
traffic,  a  plot  may  be  formed,  and  a6lually  has  been 
formed,  for  giving  any  particular  turn  to  the  literature 
of  the  country.  There  is  an  excellent  work  printed  at 
Bern  by  the  author  Heinzmann,  a  bookfeller,  called, 
Appeal  to  my  Country^  concerning  a  Combination  ojWri- 
ters,  and  Bookfellers,  to  rule  the  Literature  of  Germany, 
end  form  the  public  mind  into  a  contempt  for  the  religion 
and  civil  efiablijhments  of  the  Empire.  It  contains  a 
hiftorical  account  of  the  publications  in  every  branch  of 
literature  for  about  thirty  years.  The  author  fhows,  in 
the  moft  convincing  manner,  that  the  prodigious  change 
from  the  former  fatisfaftion  of  the  Germans  on  thofe 
fubjefts  to  their  prefcnt  difcontent  and  attacks  from  eve- 
ry quarter,  is  neither  a  fair  picture  of  the  prevailing  fen- 
timents,  nor  has  been  the  iimple  operation  of  things, 
but  the  refult  of  a  combination  of  tradin^r  Infidels. 

o 

I  have  here  fomewhat  anticipated  (for  I  hope  to 
point  out  the  fources  of  this  combination,)  becaufe  it 
helps  to  explain  or  illuftrate  the  progrefs  of  infidelity 
and  irreligion  that  I  was  fpeaking  of.  It  was  much  ac- 
celerated by  another  circumftance.  One  Bafedow,  a 
man  of  talents  and  learning,  fet  up,  in  the  Principality 
of  Anhalt-Deffau,  a  Pin  lanthropin  e,  or  academy 
of  general  education,  on  a  plan  extremely  different  from 
thofe  of  the  Univerfities  and  Academies.  By  this  ap- 
pellation, the  founder  hoped  to  make  parents  expe£l  that 
much  attention  would  be  paid  to  the  morals  of  the  pu- 


FREE  MASONRY.  5:1 

piis }  and  indeed  the  programs  or  advertifements  by 
which  Bafcdow  announced  his  inllitution  to  the  public, 
defcribed  it  as  the  profefied  feminary  of  praftical  Ethics. 
Languages,  fciences,  and  the  ornamental  exercifes, 
were  here  coniidered  as  mere  acceffories,  and  the  great 
aim  was  to  form  the  young  mind  to  the  love  of  man- 
kind and  of  virtue,  by  a  plan  of  moral  education  whick 
was  very  fpccious  and  unexceptionable.  But  there  was 
a  circumflance  which  greatly  obftrufled  the  wide  prof- 
pefts  of  the  founder.  How  were  the  religious  opinions 
of  the  youth  to  be  cared  for  ?  Catholics,  Lutherans, 
and  Calvinifts,  were  almofl:  equally  numerous  in  the 
adjoining  Principahties ;  and  the  exclufion  of  any  two 
of  thefe  communions  would  prodigioufly  limit  the  pro- 
pofed  ufefulnefs  of  the  inftitution.  Bafedow  was  a  man 
of  talents,  a  good  fcholar,  and  a  perfuafive  writer.  He 
framed  afet  of  rules,  by  v/hich  the  educatiorv  Ihould  be 
conduced,  and  which,  he  thought,  fhould  make  every 
parent  cafy ;  and  the  plan  is  very  judicious  and  manly. 
But  none  came  but  Lutherans,  His  zeal  and  intereil 
in  the  thing  made  him  endeavour  to  interell  others ;  and 
he  found  this  no  hard  matter.  The  people  of  condition, 
and  all  fenfible  men,  faw  that  it  would  be  a  very  great 
advantage  to  the  place,  could  they  induce  men  to  fend 
their  children  from  all  the  neighbouring  dates.  What 
v/e  wifh,  we  readily  believe  to  be  the  truth ;  and  Bafe- 
dow's  plan  and  reafonings  appeared  complete,  and  had 
the  fupport  of  all  claffes  of  men.  The  m©derate  Cal- 
vinifts, after  fome  time,  were  not  averfe  from  them,  and 
the  literary  manufafture  of  Germany  was  foon  very  bu- 
fy  in  making  pamphlets,  defending,  improving,  attack- 
ing and  reprobating  the  plans.  Innumerable  were  the 
projects  for  moderating  the  diffeiTnces  between  the 
three  Chriftian  communions  of  Germany,  and  making 
it  poflible  for  the  members  of  them  all,  not  only  to  li^ 


72 


TI-IE  SCHISMS  IN 


amicably  among  each  other,  and  to  worfhip  God  in  the 
fame  church,  but  even  to  communicate  together.  This 
attempt  naturally  gave  rife  to  much  fpeculation  and  re- 
finement; and  the  propofals  for  amendment  of  the  for- 
mulas and  the  inftruftions  from  the  pulpit  were  profe- 
tuted  with  fo  much  keennefs,  that  the  ground-work, 
Chriiiianity,  was  refined  and  refined,  till  it  vaniflied 
altogether,  leaving  Deifm,  or  Natural,  or,  as  it  was 
called,  Philofophical  Religion,  in  its  place.  I  am  not 
much  miftaken  as  to  hiftorical  fa8:,  when  I  fay,  that 
the  aftoniiliing  change  in  religious  doftrine  which  has 
taken  place  in  Proteftant  Germany  within  thefe  lafl 
thirty  years  was  chiefly  occafioned  by  this  fcheme  of 
Bafedow's.  The  pre-difpoling  caufes  exifted,  indeed, 
and  were  general  and  powerful,  and  the  diforder  had 
already  broken  out.  But  this  fpecious  and  enticing 
objeft  firll  gave  a  title  to  Proteftant  clergymen  to  put  to 
their  hand  without  rifle  of  being  cenfured. 

Bafedow  correBed,  and  corre6led  again,  but  not  one 
Catholic  came  to  the  Philanthropine.  Jle Teems  to  have 
thought  that  the  belt  plan  would  be,  to  banifn  all  pofi- 
tive  religion  whatever,  and  that  he  would  then  be  fure 
of  Catholic  fcholars.  Cardinal  Dubois  was  fo  far  right 
with  refpeB.  to  the  firfl  Catholic  pupil  of  the  church. 
He  had  recommended  a  man  of  his  own  ftamp  to  Louis 
XIV.  to  fill  fome  important  office.  The  monarch  was 
aftonifiied,  and  told  the  Cardinal,  that  "  that  would 
never  do,  for  the  man  was  a  Janfenift ;  Eh  !  que  ncn, 
Sire,''  faid  the  Cardinal,  ''•  il  nejl  qu"  Aihee  ;"  all  was 
fafe,  and  the  man  got  the  priory.  But  though  all  was 
in  vain,  Bafedow's  Philanthropine  at  Deffau  got  a  high 
charafter.  He  piiblifhed  many  volumes  on  education 
that  have  much  merit. 


FREE  MASONRY.  73 

'     It  were  well  had  this  been  all.     But  moft   unfortu- 
nately, though    moft   naturally,  writers  of  loofe  moral 
principles  and  of  wicked  hearts  were  encouraged  by  the 
impunity  which  the   fceptical   writers  experienced,  and 
ventured  to  publifli  things  of  the  vileft  tendency,  inflam- 
ing the  paflions  and  j  uftifying  licentious  manners.   Thefe 
maxims  are  congenial  with  irreligion  and  Atheifm,  and 
the  books  found  a  quick  market.     It  was  chiefly  in  the 
Pruflian  States  that  this  w^ent  on.     The  late  King  was, 
to  fay   the  beft  of  him,  a  naturalift,  and,  holding  this 
life  for  his  all,  gave  full  liberty  to  his   fubje6ls  to  write 
what  they  plea  fed,  provided  they  did  not  touch  on  ftate 
matters.     He  declared,  however,  to  a  minifter  of  his 
court,  long  before  his  death,  that  "  he  was  extremely 
forry  that  his   indiff'erence  had  produced   fuch   effe6ls ; 
that  he  was   fenfible  it  had  greatly  contributed  to  hurt 
the  peace  and  mutual  good  treatment  of  his  fubjefts;" 
and  he  faid,  "  that  he  would  willingly  give  up  the  glory 
of  his  beft  fought  battle,  to  have  the  fatisfaftion  of  leav- 
ing his  -^.eople  in  the  fame  ftate  of  peace  and  fatisfaftion 
with  their  religious  eftablifliments,  that  he  found  them 
in  at  his  acceflion  to  the  throne."     His  fucceflbr  Frede- 
rick William  found  that  things  had  gone  much  too  far, 
and  determined  to   fupport  the  church  eftabliftiment  in 
the  moft  peremptory  manner ;  but   at  the  fame  time  to 
allow  perfed  freedom  of  thinking  and  converfmg  to  the 
profeftbrs  of  every  chriftian  faith,  provided  it  was  en- 
joyed without  difturbing  the    general  peace,  or  any  en- 
croachment on  the  rights  of  thofe  already  fupported  by 
law.     He  publiflied  an  edi6l  to   this  effeft,  which  is  re- 
ally  a  model   worthy   of  imitation    in  evtry   country. 
This  was  the  epoch  of  a  ftrange  revolution.     It  was  at- 
tacked from  all  hands,  and  criticifms,  fatires,  flanders, 
threatenings,  poured  in   from  every  quarter.     The  in- 

K 


^4  THE  SCHISMS  IN 

dependency  of  the   neighbouring   ftates,  and  the  mo- 
narch's not  being  a  great  favorite  among  feveral  of  his 
neighbours,  permitied  the  publication  of  thefe  pieces  in 
the  adjoining  principalities,  and   it  was    impoffible   to 
prevent  their  circulation  even  in  the    Pruffian   States. 
His  ediO:  was  called  an  unjuftifiable   tyranny  over  the 
confciences  of  men  ;  the  dogmas  fupported  by  it,  were 
called  abfurd  fuperftitions  ;  the  King's  private  charader, 
and  his  opinions  in  religious  matters,  were  treated  with 
little   /everence,  nay,  were  ridiculed  and  fcandaloufly 
abufed.     This   field  of  difcuilion  being   thus   thrown 
open,  the  writers  did  not  confine  themfelves  to  religious 
matters.     After  flatly    denying   that  the  prince  of  any 
country  had  the  fmalleft  right  to  prefcribe,  or  even  di- 
reO.  the  faith  of  his  fubjeQs,  they  extended  their  difcuf- 
fions  to  the  rights  of  princes  in  general  ;  and  now  they 
fairly  opened  their  trenches,  and  made  an  attack  in  form 
on  the  conftitutions   of  the  German  confederacy,  and 
after  the  ufual  approaches,   they   fet  up  the  ftandard  of 
univerfal  citizenfliip  on  the  very  ridge  of  the  glacis,  and 
fummoned   the  fort   to  furrender.     The  moft  daring  of 
thefe  attacks  was   a  colleBion  of  anonymous  letters  on 
the  conftitution  of  the  Pruffian  States.     It  was  printed 
(or  faid  to  be  fo)  at   Utrecht ;  but  by  comparing  the 
faults  of   fome  types  with  fome  books  printed  in  Berlin, 
it  v/as   fuppofed   by  all  to  be  the  produ6tion  of  one  of 
Nicholai's  preffes.     It  was  thought  to   be  the  compofi- 
tion  of  Mirabeau.      It  is  certain  that  he  wrote  a  French 
tranflation,  with  a   preface    and   notes,  more  impudent 
than   the  work  itfelf.     The  monarch  was  declared  to  be 
a  tyrant  j  the  people  are  addreffed  as  a  parcel  of  tame 
wretches   crouching  under   oppreffion.     The  people  of 
Silefia  are  reprefented  as  flill  in  a  worfe  condition,  and 
are  repeatedly  called  to  roufe  themfelves,  and  to  rife  up 
and  aflert  their  rights.     The  King  is  told,  that  there  is  a 


FREE  MASONRY.  ^5 

r 

combination  of  philofophers  (conjuration)  who  are 
leagued  together  in  defence  of  truth  and  reafon,  and 
which  no  power  can  withftand  ;  that  they  are  to  be  found 
in  every  country,  and  are  conneBed  by  mutual  and  fo- 
lemn  engagement,  and  will  put  in  pratlice  every  mean 
of  attack.  Enlightening,  inftru6lion,  was  the  general 
cry  among  the  writers.  The  triumph  of  reafon  over 
error,  the  overthrow  of  fuperftition  and  flavifli  fear, 
freedom  from  religious  and  political  prejudices,  and 
the  eftablifhment  of  Hberty  and  equality,  the  natural  and 
unalienable  rights  of  man,  were  the  topics  of  general  de- 
clamation ;  and  it  was  openly  maintained,  that  fecret  fo- 
cieties,  where  the  communication  of  fentiment  fhould 
be  free  from  every  reltraint,  was  the  mod  effe6lual 
mean  for  inftruding  and  enlightening  the  world. 

And  thus  it  appears,  that  Germany  has  experienced 
the  fame  gradual  progrefs,  from  Religion  to  Atheifm, 
from  decency  to  diflblutenefs,  and  from  loyalty  to  re- 
bellion, which  has  had  its  courfe  in  France.  And  I 
muft  now  add,  that  this  progrefs  has  been  effefted  in 
the  fame  manner,  and  by  the  fame  means  ;  and  that 
one  of  the  chief  means  of  fedu£lion  has  been  the  Lodges 
of  the  Free  Mafons.  The  French,  along  with  their 
numerous  chevalcries,  and  ftars,  and  ribbands,  had  brought 
in  the  cuftom  of  haranguing  in  the  Lodges,  and  as  hu- 
man nature  has  aconliderable  uniformity  every  where, 
the  fame  topics  became  favorite  fubje8:s  of  declamation 
that  had  tickled  the  ear  in  France  ;  there  were  the  lame 
corruptions  of  fentiments  and  manners  among  the  luxu- 
rious or  profligate,  and  the  fame  incitements  to  the  ut- 
terance of  thefe  fentiments,  wherever  it  could  be  done 
with  fafety ;  and  I  may  fay,  that  the  zealots  in  all  thefe 
tracts  of  free-thinking  were  more  ferious,  more  grave, 
and  fanatical.     Thefe  are  not  afltrtions  apriori.     I  can 


^6  THE  S.CHISMS  IN 

produce  proofs.  There  was  a  Baron  Knigge  refiding  at 
that  time  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Frankfort,  of  whom 
I  fhall  afterwards  have  occafion  frequently  to  fprak. 
This  man  was  an  enthufiaft  in  Mafonry  from  his  youth, 
and  had  run  througli  every  pofTible  degree  of  it.  He 
was  diffatisfied  with  them  all,  and  particularly  with  the 
frivolity  of  the  French  chivalry  ;  but  he  flill  believed 
that  Mafonry  contained  invaluable  fecrets.  He  ima- 
gined that  he  faw  a  glimpfe  of  them  in  the  cofmo-poli- 
tical  and  fceptical  difcourfes  in  their  Lodges ;  he  fat 
down  to  meditate  on  thefe,  and  foon  coUeBed  his 
thoughts,  and  found  that  thofe  French  orators  v.'crc  right 
without  knowing  it ;  and  that  Mafonry  was  pure  natu- 
ral religion  and  univerfal  citizenfhip,  and  that  this  was 
alfo  true  Chriftianity.  In  this  faith  he  immediately  be- 
gan his  career  of  Brotherly  love,  and  publiflied  three 
volumes  of  fermons  ;  the  firft  and  third  publifhed  at 
Frankfort,  and  the  fecond  at  Heidelberg,  but  without 
his  name.  Hepublifliedalfo  a  popular  fyftem  of  reli- 
gion. In  all  thefe  publications,  of  which  there  are  ex- 
trafts  in  the  Religions  Begchenheiten^  Chriftianity  is  con- 
fidered  as  a  mere  allegory,  or  a  Mafonic  type  of  natu- 
ral religion  ;  the  moral  duties  are  fpun  into  the  com- 
mon-place declamations  of  univerfal  benevolence  ;  and 
the  attention  is  continually  direfted  to  the  abfurdities 
flnd  horrors  of  fupcrftition,  the  fufferings  of  the  poor, 
the  tvrannv  and  oppreffion  of  the  great,  the  tricks  of  the 
priefts,  and  the  indolent  fimplicity  and  patience  of  the 
laity  and  of  the  common  people.  The  happinefs  of  the 
patriarchal  life,  and  fweets  of  univerfal  equality  and 
freedom,  are  the  burden  of  every  paragraph  ;  and  the 
general  tenor  of  the  whole  is  to  make  men  difcontented 
with  their  condition  of  civil  fubordiuation,.  and  the  re- 
ftraints  of  revealed  religion. 


FREE  MASONRY.  77 

All  the  proceedings  of  Knigge  in  the  Mafbnic  fchifms 
fhow  that  he  was  a  zealous  apoftle  of  cofmo-politifra, 
and  that  he  was  continually  deahng  with  people  in  the 
Lodges  who  were  alfociated  with  him  in  ])ropagating 
thefe  notions  among  the  Brethren  ;  fo  that  we  are  cer- 
tain that  fuch  converfations  were  common  in  the  Ger- 
man Lodges. 

When  the  reader  con-iders  all  thefe  circum (lances,  he 
■will  abate  of  that  furprife  which  naturally  aiFeCls  a  Bri- 
ton, when  he  reads  accounts  of  conventions  for  difcuf- 
fmg  and  lixing  the  dogmatic  tenets  of  Free  Mafonry. 
The  perfeft  freedom,  civil  and  religious,  which  we  en- 
joy in  this  happy  country,  being  familiar  to  every  man, 
we  indulge  it  with  calmncfs  and  moderation,  and  fecret 
affemblies  hardly  differ  from  the  common  meetings  of 
friends  and  neighbours.  We  do  not  forget  the  expedi- 
ency of  civil  fubordination,  and  of  thofe  diRinfctions 
which  arife  from  fecure  pofTeffion  of  our  rights,  and  the 
gradual  accumulation  of  die  comforts  of  life  in  the  fami- 
lies  of  the  fober  and  indullrious.  Thefe  have,  by  pru- 
dence and  a  refpeftable  ccconomy,  preferved  the  acqui- 
fitions  of  their  anceftors.  Every  man  feels  in  his  own 
breaft  the  flrong  call  of  nature  to  procure  for  hirafelf 
and  his  children,  by  every  honed  and  commendable  ex- 
ertion, the  means  of  public  confideration  and  refpeQ. 
No  man  is  fo  totally  without  fpirit,  as  not  to  think  the 
better  of  his  condition  when  he  is  come  of  creditable  pa- 
rents, and  has  creditable  conne6:ions ;  and  widiout  think- 
ing that  he  is  in  any  refped  generous,  he  prefumcs  that 
others  have  the  fame  fentim.ents,  and  therefore  allows 
the  moderate  expreflion  of  them,  without  thinking  it  in- 
folence  or  hauglitinefs.  All  thefe  things  are  familiar, 
are  not  thought  of,  and  we  enjoy  them  as  we  enjoy  ordi- 
nary health,  without  perceiving  it.  But  in  the  fame  man- 


78  THE  SCHISxMS  IN 

ner  as  a  young  man  who  has  been  long  confined  hy  fick- 
nefs,  exults  in  returning  health,  and  is  apt  to  riot  in  the 
enjoyment  of  what  he  fo  diftinftly  feels  ;  fo  thofe  who 
are  under  continual  check  in  open  fociety,  feel  this 
emancipation  in  thefe  hidden  afiemblies,  and  indulge 
with  eagernefs  in  the  expreffion  of  fentiments  which  in 
public  they  mud  fmother  within  their  own  breaft.  Such 
meetings,  therefore,  have  a  zeft  that  is  very  alluring, 
and  they  .are  frequented  with  avidity.  There  is  no  coun- 
try in  Europe  where  this  kind  of  enjoyment  is  fo  poig- 
nant as  in  Germany.  Very  infignificant  principalities 
have  the  fame  rank  in  the  General  Federation  with  very 
extenfive  dominions.  The  internal  conftitution  of  each 
petty  ftate  being  modelled  in  nearly  the  fame  manner, 
the  official  honors  of  their  little  courts  become  ludi- 
crous and  even  farcical.  The  Geheim  Hofrath,  the 
Hofmarefchal,  and  all  the  Kammerhers  of  a  Prince, 
whofe  dominions  do  not  equal  the  eftates  of  many  En- 
glifh  Squires,  caufe  the  whole  to  appear  like  the  play  of 
children,  and  muR  give  frequent  occafion  for  difcontent 
and  ridicule.  Mafon  Lodges  even  keep  this  alive.  The 
fraternal  equality  profefied  in  them  is  very  flattering  to 
thofe  who  have  not  fucceeded  in  the  fcramble  for  civil 
diflinQions.  Such  perfons  become  the  moft  zealous 
Mafons,  and  generally  obtain  the  aclive  offices  in  the 
Lodges,  and  have  an  opportunity  of  treating  with  au- 
thority perfons  whom  in  public  fociety  they  mult  look 
up  to  with  fome  refpeO;. 

Thefe  confiderations  account,  in  fome  meafure,  for 
the  importance  which  Free  Mafonry  has  acquired  in 
Germanv.  For  a  long  while  the  hopes  of  learning  fome 
wonderful  fecret  made  a  German  Baron  think  nothing 
of  long  and  expenfive  journics  in  queft  of  fome  new 
degree.     Of  late,  the  cofmo-political  doclrines  encou- 


FREE  MASONRY.  7^ 

raged  and  propagated  in  the  Lodges,  and  feme  hopes  of 
producing  a  Revolution  in  fociety,  by  which  men  of  ta- 
lents fhould  obtain  the  management  of  public  affairs, 
feem  to  be  the  caufe  of  ail  the  zeal  with  which  the  or- 
der is  flill  cheriihed  and  promoted.  In  a  periodical 
work,  publifhed  at  Neuwied,  called  Algemcin  Zeitung 
der  Freymaurercy^  we  have  the  lift  of  the  Lodges  in 
1782,  with  the  names  of  the  Office-bearers.  Four- 
fifths  of  thefe  are  clergymen,  profeffors,  perfons  having 
offices  in  the  common-law  courts,  men  of  letters  by 
trade,  fuch  as  reviewers  and  journalills,  and  other  pam- 
phleteers ;  a  clafs  of  men,  who  generally  think  that  they 
have  not  attained  that  rank  in  fociety  to  which  their  ta- 
lents entitle  them,  and  imagine  that  they  could  dif- 
charge  the  important  offices  of  the  ftate  with  reputation 
to  themfelves  and  advantage  to  the  pubhc. 

The  miferable  uncertainty  and  inftability  of  the  Ma- 
fonic  faith,  which  I  defcribed  above,  was  not  akogedier 
theeffetlof  mere  chance,  but  hiid  been  greatly  accelerated 
by  the  machinations  of  Baron  Knigge,  and  fome  other 
Cofmo-political  Brethren  whom  he  had  called  to  his  af- 
fiflance.  Knigge  had  now  formed  a  fcheme  for  uniting 
the  whole  Fraternity,  for  the  purpofe  of  promoting  his 
Utopian  plan  of  univerfal  benevolence  in  a  ftate  of  li- 
berty and  equality.  He  hoped  to  do  this  more  readily 
by  completing  their  embarraffment,  and  (hewing  each 
fyftem  how  imfirm  its  foundation  was,  and  how  little 
chance  it  had  of  obtaining  a  general  adherence.  The 
Striken  Ohfervanz  had  now  completely  loft  its  credit, 
by  which  it  had  hoped  to  get  the  better  of  all  the  reft, 
Knigge  therefore  propofed  a  plan  to  the  Lodges  of 
Frankfort  and  Wetzlar,  by  which  all  the  fyftems  might, 
in  lome  meafure,  be  united,  or  at  leaft  be  brought  to  a 
ftate  of  mutual  forbearance  and  intercourfe.     He  pro- 


8o  THE  SCHISMS  IN 

pofed  that  the  Englifh  (;vdem  fliould  be  taken  for  the 
ground-work,  and  to  receive  albihd  only  thofe  who  had 
taken  the  three  fymbolical  degrees,  as  they  were  now 
generally  called.  After  thus  guarding  this  general  point 
of  faith,  he  propofed  to  allow  the  validity  of  every  de- 
ii^ree  or  rank  which  fliould  be  received  in  any  Lodge,  or 
be  made  the  chara6ier  of  any  particular  fyftem.  Thefe 
Lodges,  having  iccured  the  adherence  of  feveral  odiers, 
broughtabouta general  convention  at  Willemfbadin  ?Iai- 
nault,  where  every  different  fyftein  fhpuld  communi- 
cate its  peculiar  tenets.  It  w^as  then  hoped,  that  after 
an  examination  of  them  all,  a  conflitution  might  be 
formed,  which  comprehended  every  thing  that  was  moft 
worthy  of  fele£tion,  and  therefore  be  far  better  than  the  ac- 
commodating fyliem  already  defcribed.  By  this  he  ho- 
ped to  get  his  favorite  fcheme  introduced  into  the  whole 
Order,  and  Free  Mafons  made  zealous  Citizens  of  the 
World.  I  believe  he  was  fincere  in  thefe  intentions, 
and  had  no  intention  to  difturb  the  public  peace.  The 
convention  was  accordin-dy  held,  and  lafled  a  long  while, 
the  deputies  confuhing  about  the  frivolities  of  Mafonry, 
with  all  the  ferioufncfs  of  ftate-ambaffadors.  But  there 
was  great  Ihynefs  in  their  communications  ;  and  Knigge 
v;as  making  but  fmall  progrefs  in  his  plan,  when  he  met 
with  another  Mafon,  the  Marquis  of  Conlfanza,  who  in 
an  inftant  converted  him,  and  changed  all  his  meafures, 
by  fhow'ing  him  that  he  (Knigge)  was  only  doing  by 
halves  what  was  already  accompliflied  by  another  Soci- 
ety, which  had  carried  it  to  its  full  extent.  They  im- 
mediately fct  about  undoing  what  he  had  been  occupi- 
ed with,  and  heightened  as  much  as  they  could  the  dif- 
fentions,  already  fufRciendy  great,  and,  in  the  mean 
time,  got  the  Lodges  of  Frankfort  and  Wetzlar,  and  fe- 
veral others,  to  unite,  and  pick  out  the  befl  of  the  things 
they   had  obtaiiied  by   the  communications   from   the 


FREE  MASONRY.  'Bi 

TOtTier  fyftems,  and  they  formed  a  plan  of  what  they 
called,  the  EcleHic  or  Syncritic  Mafonry  of  the  United 
Lodges  of  Germany.  They  compofed  a  conftitution, 
ritual,  and  catechifm,  which  has  merit,  and  is  indeed 
the  completeft  body  of  Free  Mafonry  that  we  have. 

Such  was  the  ftate  of  this  celebrated  and  myfterious 
Fraternity  in  Germany  in  1776.  The  fpirit  of  innova- 
tion had  feized  all  the  Brethren.  No  man  could  give  a 
tolerable  account  of  the  origin,  hiftory,  or  object  of 
die  Order,  and  it  appeared  to  all  as  a  loft  or  forgotten 
myftery.  The  fymbols  feemed  to  be  equally  fufcepti- 
ble  of  every  interpretation,  and  none  of  trhefc  fc?med 
entitled  to  any  decided  preference. 


C  H  A  K     IL 

The  Illuminati. 


1 


AM  now  arrived  at  ivhat  I  fhould  cail  the  great 
epoch  of  Cofmo-politifm,  the  fcheme  communicated  to 
Baron  Knigge  by  the  Marchefe  di  Conjlanza.  This 
obliges  me  to  mention  a  remarkable  Lodge  of  the  Eclec- 
tic Mafonry,  ere6led  at  Munich  in  Bavaria,  in  1775, 
under  the  worfliipful  Mafter,  ProfefTor  Baader.  It  was 
called  The  Lodge  Theodore  of  Good  Counfel.  It  had  its 
conftitutional  patent  from  the  Royal  York  at  Berlin, 
but  had  formed  a  particular  fyftem  of  its  own,  by  in- 
ftruftions  from  the  Lege  des  Chevaliers  Bienfaifants  at 
Lyons,  with  which  it  kept  up  a  correfpondence.  This 
refpeB;  to  the  Lodge  at  Lyons  had  arifen  from  the  pre- 
ponderance acquired  in  general  by  the  French  party  in 
the  convention  at  Willemfbad.  The  deputies  of  the 
Rofaic  Lodges,  as  well  as  the  remains  of  the  Templars, 
and  StriBen  Obfervanz,  all  looking  up  to  this  as  the  mo- 
ther Lodge  of  what  they  called  the  Grand  Orient  de  la 
France^  confiding  (in  1782)  of  266  improved  Lodges, 
united  under  the  D.  de  Chartres.  Accordingly  the 
Lodge  at  Lyons  fent  Mr.  Willermooz  as  deputy  to  this 
convention  at  Willemfbad.  Refining  gradually  on  the 
fimplc  Britifh  Mafonry,  the  Lodge  had  furmtd  a  fyltcm 


THE  ILLUMINATE;  8^ 

of  praftical  morality,  which  it  afferted  to  be  the  aim  of 
genuine  Mafonry,  faying,  that  a  true  Mafon,  and  a 
man  of  upright  heart  and  aftive  virtue,  are  fynonymous 
charaders,  and  that  the  great  aim  of  Free  Mafonry  is 
to  promote  the  happinefs  of  mankind  by  every  mean  in 
our  power.  In  purfuance  of  thefe  principles,  the  Lodge 
Theodore  profefiedly  occupied  itfelf  with  ceconomical, 
flatiflical,  and  political  matters,  and  not  only  publifhed 
from  time  to  time  difcourfes  on  fuch  fubje6ls  by  the 
Brother  Orator,  but  the  Members  confidered  themfelves 
as  in  duty  bound  to  propagate  and  inculcate  the  fame 
do6lrines  out  of  doors. 

Of  the  zealous  members  of  the  Lodge  Theodore  the 
molt  confpicuous  was  Dr.  Adam  Weifhaupt,  ProfeffoF 
of  Canon  Law  in  the  univerhty  of  Ingolftadt.  This 
perfon  had  been  educated  among  the  Jefuits;  but  the 
abolition  of  their  order  made  him  change  his  views,  and 
from  being  their  pupil,  he  became  their  moft  bitter  ene- 
my. He  had  acquired  a  high  reputation  in  his  profef- 
iion,  and  was  attended  not  only  by  thofe  intended  for 
the  prafiice  in  the  law-courts,  but  alfo  by  the  young 
gentlemen  at  large,  in  their  courfe  of  general  educati- 
on ;  and  he  brought  numbers  from  the  neighbouring 
ftates  to  this  univerlity,  and  gave  a  ton  to  the  Ihudies  of 
the  place.  He  embraced  with  great  keennefs  this  opt 
portunity  of  fpreading  the  favorite  doctrines  of  the 
Lodge,  and  his  auditory  became  the  feminary  of  Cof- 
mo-politifm.  The  engaging  piQures  of  the  poflible  fe- 
licity of  a  fociety  where  every  office  is  held  by  a  man  of 
talents  and  virtue,  and  where  every  talent  is  fet  in  a 
place  fitted  for  its  exertion,  forcibly  catches  the  gene- 
rous and  unfufpefting  minds  of  youth,  and  in  a  Roman 
Catholic  (late,  far  advanced  in  the  habits  of  grofs  fuper- 
ftition  (a  charader  given  to  Bavaria  by  its  neighbours} 


t4  THE  ILLUMINATP. 

and  abounding  in  monks  and  idle  dignitaries,  the  op- 
portunities muft  be  frequent  for  obferving  the  inconli- 
derate  dominion  of  the  clergy,  and  the  abjeft  and  indo- 
lent fubmiffion  of  the  laity.  Accordingly  Profeffor 
Weifhaupt  fays,  in  his  Apology  for  Illuminatifm,  that 
Deifm,  Infidelity,  and  Atheifm  are  more  prevalent  in 
Bavaria  than  in  any  country  he  was  acquainted  with. 
Difcourfes,  therefore,  in  which  the  abfurdity  and  hor- 
rors of  fuperftition  and  fpiritual  tyranny  were  ftrongly 
painted,  could  not  fail  of  making  a  deep  imprcflion'. 
And  during  this  ftate  of  the  minds  of  the  auditory  the 
tranfition  to  general  infidelity  and  irreligion  is  fo  eafy-, 
and  fo  inviting  to  fanguine  youth,  prompted  perhaps 
by  a  latent  wifh  that  the  reftraints  which  religion  impo- 
fes  on  the  expeftants  of  a  future  ftate  might  be  found", 
on  enquiry,  to  be  nothing  but  groundlefs  terrors ;  that 
I  imagine  it  requires  the  mod  anxious  care  of  the  public 
teacher  to  keep  the  minds  of  his  audience  impreffed 
with  the  reality  and  importance  of  the  great  truths  of  re- 
ligion, while  he  frees  them  from  the  fhackles  of  blind 
and  abfurd  fuperftition.,  I  fear  that  this  celebrated  in- 
ftruftor  had  none  of  this  anxiety,  but  was  iatisfied  with 
his  great  fuccefs  in  the  laft  part  of  this  tafk,  the  eman- 
cipation of  his  young  hearers  from  the  terrors  of  fupcr- 
flition.  I  fuppofe  alfo  that  this  was  the  more  agreeable 
to  him,  as  it  procured  him  the  triumph  over  the  Jefuits, 
with  whom  he  had  long  itruggled  for  the  diretiion  of  the 
univerfity. 

This  was  in  1777.  Weifhaupt  had  long  been  fchem- 
ingthe  eftablifhment  of  an  Aifociation  or  Order,  which, 
in  time,  fliould  govern  the  world.  In  his  firft  fervour 
and  high  expetiations,  he  hinted  to  feveral  Ex-Jefuits 
the  probability  of  their  recovering,  under  a  new  name,, 
the  influence  which  they  formerly  poifelled,  and  of  be- 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  8$ 

ing  again  of  great  fervice  to  fociety,  by  dircfting  the 
education  of  youth  of  diftinftion,  now  emancipated 
from  all  civil  and  religious  prejudices.  He  prevailed 
on  fome  to  join  him,  but  they  all  retraced  but  two. 
After  this  difappointment  Weifhaupt  became  the  irapla-. 
cable  enemy  of  the  }cfuits  ;  and  his  fanguine  temper 
madehnn  frequently  lay  himfelf  open  to  their  piercing 
eye,  and  drew  on  him  their  kceneft  refentment,  and  at 
laft  made  him  the  viftim  of  their  enmity. 

The  Lodge  Theodore  was  the  place  where  the  above- 
mentioned  doftrines  were  moft  zcaiouOy  propagated. 
But  Weilliaupt's  emiflaries  had  already  procured  the 
adherence  of  many  other  Lodges  ;  and  the  Ecl€6tic  Ma- 
fonry  had  been  brought  into  vogue  chiefly  by  their  ex- 
ertions at  the  Willemfbad  convention.  The  Lodge 
Theodore  was  perhaps  lefs  guarded  in  its  proceedings, 
for  it  became  remarkable  for  the  very  bold  fentiments 
in  politics  and  religion  which  were  frequently  uttered  in 
their  harangues  ;  and  its  members  were  noted  for  their 
zeal  in  making  profelytes.  Many  bitter  pafquinades, 
fatires,  and  other  offenhve  pamphlets  were  in  fecret  cir- 
culation, and  even  larger  works  of  very  dangerous  ten- 
dency, and  feveral  of  them  v/ere  traced  to  that  Lodge. 
The  EleQor  often  expreffed  his  dilapprobation  of  fuch 
proceedings,  and  fent  them  kind  meflages,  deliringthem 
to  be  careful  not  to  difturb  the  peace  of  the  country, 
and  particularly  to  recolleft  the  folemn  declaration  made 
to  every  entrant  into  the  Fraternity  of  Free  Mafons, 
"  That  no  fubjeft  of  religion  or  politics  fliall  ever  be 
touched  on  in  the  Lodge  ;"  a  declaration  which  alone 
could  have  procured  his  permiflion  of  any  fecret  affem- 
bly  whatever,  and  on  the  iincerity  and  honor  of  which 
he  had  reckoned  when  he  gave  his  fantlion  to  their  efta- 
biifliment.     But  repeated  accounts  of  the  fame  kind  in- 


86  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

ereafed  the  alarm,  and  the  Elector  ordered  a  judicial 
enquiry  into  the  proceedings  of  the  Lodge  Theodore. 

It  was  then  difcovered  that  this  and  feveral  afTociated 
Lodges  we'^e  the  nurfery  or  preparation-fchool  for  ano- 
ther Order  of  Mafons,  who  called  themfelves  the  Illu- 
minated, and  that  the  exprefs  aim  of  this  Order  wa$ 
to  abolifh  Chriilianity,  and  overturn  all  civil  govern^ 
ment.  But  the  refult  of  the  enquiry  was  very  impcr- 
feci  and  unfatisfaftory.  No  lUuminati  were  to  be 
found.  They  were  unknown  in  the  Lodge.  Some  of 
the  members  occafionally  heard  of  certain  candidates 
for  illumination  called  Mi  nervals,  who  were  fome- 
times  feen  among  them.  But  whether  thefe  had  been 
admitted,  or  vho  received  them,  was  known  only  to 
themfelves.  Some  of  thefe  v/ere  examined  in  private 
by  the  Eleftor  himfelf.  They  laid  that  they  were  bound 
by  honor  to.  fecrecy  :  But  they  afTured  the  Eleftor,  on 
their  honor,  that  the  aim  of  the  Order  was  in  the  high- 
eil  degree  praife -worthy,  and  ufeful  both  to  church  and 
ftate  :  But  this  could  not  allay  the  anxiety  of  the  pro- 
fane public  ;  and  it  was  repeatedly  ftated  to  the  Eletior, 
that  members  of  the  Lodge  Theodore  had  unguardedly 
fpoken  of  this  Order  as  one  that  in  time  mull  rule  the 
world.  He  therefore  ilTued  an  order  forbidding,  dur- 
ing his  pleafure,  all  fecret  affemblies,  and  fhutting  up 
the  Mafon  Lodges.  It  was  not  meant  to  be  rigoroufly 
enforced,  but  was  intended  as  a  trial  of  the  deference  of 
thefe  AfTociations  for  civil  authority.  The  Lodge 
Theodore  diftinguifhed  itfelf  by  pointed  oppolition, 
continuing  its  meetings  ;  and  the  members,  out  of  doors, 
openly  reprobated  the  prohibition  as  an  abfurd  and  un- 
juiufiabie  tyranny. 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  ^f 

.    Irithe  beginning  of  1783,  four  profeflbrs  of  the  Ma-i 
rianen  Academy,  founded   by  the  widow   of  the   late 
Eleftor,    viz.  Utfchneider,    CofTandey,    Renner,    and 
Grunberger,  with  two  others,  were  fummoned  before 
the  Court   of  Enquiry,  and    queftioned,  on  their  alle- 
giance, refpe6ling  the  Order  of  the  Illuminati.     They 
acknowledged  that  they  belonged  to  it,  and  when  more 
clofely  examined,  they  related  feveral  circumftances  of 
its  conflitution  and  principles.     Their  declarations  werfe 
immediately  publifhed,     and  w^ere    very   unfavorabk". 
The  Order   was  faid  to  abjure  Chriftianity,  and   to  re-f 
fufe  admifiion  into  the  higher  degrees  to  all  who  adher- 
ed to  any  of  the  three   confeflions.      Senfual  pleafures 
were  reftored  to  the  rank   they   held  in  the  Epicurean 
philofophy.     Self-murder  was  jullified  on  Stoical  jwin- 
ciples.     In  the    Lodges   death  was  declared  an  eternal 
•fleep  ;  patriotifm  and  loyalty  were    called  narrow-mind- 
ed prejudices,  and  incompatible  with  univerfal  benevo- 
lence ;  continual  declamations  were  made  on  liberty  and 
equality  as  the  unalienable  rights  of  man.     The  baneful 
influence  of  accuraulated  property  was  declared  an  in- 
furmountable    obftacle  to   the  happinefs  of  any  nation 
whofe  chief  laws  were  framed  for  its  protetlion  and  in- 
creafe.     Nothing  was  fo  frequently  difcourfed  of  as  the 
propriety  of  employing,  for  a  good  purpofe,  the  means 
which  the  wicked   employed  for  evil  purpofes  j  and  it 
was  taught,  that  the  preponderancy  of  good  in  the  ulti- 
mate refult  confecrated  every  mean  employed  ;  and  that 
wifdom   and. virtue  confifted   in  properly  determining, 
this  balance.     This  appeared  big  with  danger  ;  becaufe 
it  appeared  that  nothing  would  be  fcrupled  at,  if  we 
could  make  it  appear  that  the  Order  could  derive  advan- 
tage from  it,  becaufe  the  great  objetl  of  the  Order  w^as 
held  as  fuperior   to   every   conhderation.     They  con- 
cluded by.  faying  that  the   method   of  education  made 


88  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

them  all  fpies  on  each  other  and  on  all  around  them. 
But  all  this  was  denied  by  the  Illuminati.  Some  of 
them  were  {aid  to  be  abfolutcly  falfe  ;  and  the  reft  were 
faid  to  be  millakes.  The  apoftate  profeiTors  had  ac- 
knowledged their  ignorance  of  many  things.  Two  of 
them  were  only  Mmervals,  another  was  an  lUuminatus 
of  the  lowcft  clafs,  and  the  fourth  was  but  one  ftep  far- 
ther advanced.  Pamphlets  appeared  on  both  fides,  with 
very  little  effect.  The  Eleclor  called  before  him  one 
of  the  fuperiors,  a  young  nobleman,  who  denied  thefe 
injurious  charges,  and  faid  that  they  were  ready  to  lay 
before  his  Highnefs  their  whole  archives  and  all  confti- 
tutional  papers. 

Notwithftanding  all  this,  the  government  had  receiv- 
ed fuch  an  impreffion  of  the  dangerous  tendency  of  the 
Order,  that  the  Ele6lor  ilfued  another  edift,  forbidding 
all  hidden  aflemblies  ;  and  a  third,  exprefsly  abolifhing 
the  Order  of  Illuminati.  It  w^as  followed  by  a  fearch 
after  their  papers.  The  Lodge  Theodore  was  immedi- 
ately fearched,  but  none  were  to  be  found.  They  faid 
now  that  they  had  burnt  them  all,  as  of  no  ufe,  fincc 
that  Order  was  at  an  end. 

It  was  now^  difcovered,  that  Weifhaupt  was  the  head 
and  founder  of  the  Order.  He  was  deprived  of  his 
Profeffor's  chair,  and  banifhcd  from  the  Bavarian 
States  ;  but  with  a  penfion  of  800  florins,  which  he  re- 
fufed.  Pie  went  to  Regenfburg,  on  the  confines  of 
Switzerland.  Two  Italians,  the  Marquis  Conllanza 
and  Marquis  Savioli,  were  alfo  banifhed,  with  equal 
penfions  (about  L.  4c)  which  they  accepted.  One 
Zwack,  a  counfellor,  holding  fome  law -office,  was  alfo 
baniflicd.  Others  were  iniprifoncd  for  fome  lime. 
Weifhaupt  went  afterwards  imp  the  fervice  of  the  D.  of 


THE  ILLUMINATI;  t^ 

Saxe  Gotha,  a  perfon  of  a  romantic  turn  of  mind,  an4 
\vhom  we  fhall  again  meet  with.  Zwack  went  into  the 
fervice  of  the  Pr.  de  Salms,  who  foon  after  had  fo  great 
a  hand  in  the  difturbances  in  Holland. 

By  deftroying  the  papers,  all  opportunity  w^as  loft  fof 
authenticating  the  innocence  and  ufefalnefs  of  the  Ori 
der.  After  much  altercation  and  paper  w^ar,  Weif- 
haupt,  now  fafe  in  Regenfburg,  publifhed  an  accouht 
of  the  Order,  namely,  (he  account  which  was  given  to 
every  Novice  in  a  difcourfe  read  at  his  reception.  To  this 
Were  added,  the  ftatutes  and  the  rules  of  proceeding,  as 
fkr  as  the  degree  of  Illuminatus  Aiinor,  inclufive.  This 
account  he  affirmed  to  be  conform  to  the  real  pra8;ice 
of  the  Order.  But  this  publication  did  by  no  means  fa- 
tisfy  the  public  mind.  It  differed  exceedingly  from  the 
accounts  given  by  the  four  profeflbrs.  It  made  no 
mention  of  the  higher  degrees,  which  had  been  moft 
blamed  by'theni.  Belides,  it  was  alleged,  that  it  was 
all  a  fiftion,  written  in  order  to  lull  the  fufpicions  which 
liad  been  raifed  (and  this  was  found  to  be  the  cafe,  exr 
cept  in  refpe6l  of  the  very  loweft  degree.)  The  real 
conftitution  was  brought  to  light  by  degrees,  and  fhall 
be  laid  before  the  reader,  in  the  order  in  which  it  was 
gradually  difcovered,  that  we  may  the  better  judge  of 
things  not  fully  known  by  the  condu8:  of  the  leaders  du- 
ring the  detection.  The  firll  account  given  by  Weif- 
haupt  is  corre6l,  as  far  as  I  fhall  make  ufe  of  it,  and 
fliows  cleajly  the  methods  that  were  taken  to  recom- 
mend the  Order  to  flrangers. 

The  Order  of  I LLUM  IN  ATI  appears  as  an  accefTory 
to  Free  Mafonry.  It  is  in  the  Lodges  of  Free  Mafons 
that  the  Mmervals  are  found,  and  there  they  are  pre- 

■  M 


0^. 


THE  ILLUMINATI. 


pared  for  Illumination.  They  mult  have  previoufly 
obtained  the  three  Englifli  degrees.  The  founder  fays 
more.  He  fays  that  his  dodrines  are  the  only  true  Free 
Mafonry.  He  was  the  chief  promoter  of  the  EcUBic 
Syjitm.  This  he  urged  as  the  beft  method  for  gettmg 
information  of  all  the  explanations  which  have  been  gi- 
ven of  the  Mafonic  Myfteries.  He  was  alfo  a  StriB^ 
Obfervanz^  and  an  adept  Rofycrucian.  The  refult  of 
all  his  knowledge  is  worthy  of  particular  remark,  and 
Ihall  therefore  be  given  at  large. 

"  I  declare,"  fays  he,  ''  and  I  challenge  all  mankind 
to  contradi6l  my  declaration,  that  no  man  can  give  any 
account  of  the  Order  of  Free  Mafonry,  of  its  origin, 
of  its  hiftory,  of  its  objeB,  nor  any  explanation  of  its 
myfteries  and  fymbols,  which  does  not  leave  the  mind 
in  total  uncertainty  on  all  thefe  points.     Every  man  is 
entitled,  therefore,  to  give  any  explanation  of  the  fym- 
bols, and  any  fyftem  of  the  do6lrines,  that  he  can  ren- 
der palatable.     Hence  have  fprung  up  that  variety  of 
fyftems  which  for  twenty  years  have  divided  the  Order. 
The  fimple  tale  of  the  Englifh,  and  the  fifty  degrees  of 
the  French,  and  the    Knights   of  Baron    Hunde,  are 
equally  authentic,  and  have  equally  had  the  fupport  of 
intelligent  and  zealous  Brethren.     Thefe  fyftems  are  in 
faO;  but  one.     They   have   all  fprung  from  the  Blue 
Lodge  of  Three  degrees ;  take  thefe  for  their  ftandard, 
and  found  on  thefe  all  the  improvements  by  which  each 
fyftem  is  afterwards  fuited  to  the  particular  objeQ;  which 
it  keeps  in  view.     There  is  no  man,  nor  fyftem,  in  the 
world,  which  can  fhow  by  undoubted  fucceftion  that  it 
ftiould  ftand  at  the  head  of  the  Order.     Our  ignorance 
in  this  particular  frets  me.     Do  but  confider  our  fliort 
liiftory  of   120  years. — Who  will  fliow  me  the  Mother 
Lodge  ?    Thofe  of  London  we  ha,ve  difcovered   to  be 


THE  ILLUMINAXrT  ^r 

felf-ere6led  in  1716.  Afk  for  their  archives.  Theytel! 
you  they  were  burnt.  They  have  nothing  but  the 
wretched  fophiftications  of  the  Englifhman  Anderfon, 
and  the  Frenchman  Defaguilliers.  Where  is  the  Lodge 
of  York,  which  pretends  to  the  priority,  with  their 
King  Bouden,  and  the  archives  that  he  brought  from 
the  Eaft  ?  Thefe  too  are  all  burnt.  What  is  the  Chap- 
ter of  Old  Aberdeen,  and  its  Holy  Clericate  ?  Did  we 
not  find  it  unknown,  and  the  Mafon  Lodges  there  the 
moft  ignorant  of  all  the  ignorant,  gaping  for  inftruBion 
from  our  deputies  ?  Did  we  not  find  the  fame  thing  at 
London  ?  And  have  not  their  miffionaries  been  among 
us,  prying  into  our  myfteries,  and  eager  to  learn  from 
us  what  is  true  Free  Mafonry  ?  It  is  in  vain,  therefore, 
to  appeal  to  judges;  they  are  no  where  to  be  found; 
all  claim  for  therafelves  the  fceptre  of  the  Order ;  all 
indeed  are  on  an  equal  footing.  They  obtained  follow- 
ers, not  from  their  authenticity,  but  from  their  condu- 
civenefs  to  the  end  which  they  propofed,  and  from  the 
importance  of  that  end.  It  is  by  this  fcale  that  we  muft 
meafure  the  mad  and  wicked  explanations  of  the  Rofy- 
crucians,  the  Exorcifts,  acid  "Cabalifts.  Thefe  are  re- 
jefted  by  all  good  Mafons,  becaufe  incompatible  with 
focial  happinefs.  Only  fuch  fyftems  as  promote  this 
are  retained.  But  alas,  they  are  all  fadly  deficient,  be- 
caufe they  leave  us  under  the  dominion  of  political  and 
religious  prejudices ;  and  they  are  as  inefficient  as  the 
•fleepy  dofe  of  an  ordinary  fermon. 

^^  But  I  fiave  contrived  an  explanation  which  has  eve- 
ry advantage  ;  is  inviting  to  Chriftians  of  every  commu- 
nion ;  gradually  frees  them  from  all  religious  prejudi- 
ces ;  cultivates  the  focial  virtues  ;  and  animates  them 
by  a  great,  a  feafible,  and  fpcedy  profpe6t  of  univcrfal 
iappinefs,  in  a  flats  of  liberty  and  moral  equality,  freed 


9^ 


THE  ILLUMINATL 


from  the  obftacles  which  fubordination,  rank,  and  riches, 
continually  throw  in  our  way.  My  explanation  is  accu- 
rate, and  complete,  my  means  are  efFeftual,  and  irre- 
fiflible.  Our  fecret  Aflbciation  works  in  a  way  that 
nothing  can  withfland,  and  manJJiall  foon  be  free  and 
happy. 

"  This  is  the  great  obje8:  held  out  by  this  Aflbciati- 
on :  and  the  means  of  attaining  it  is  Illumination,  en- 
lightening the  underftanding  by  the  fun  of  reafon,  which 
will  difpel  the  clouds  of  fuperftition  and  of  prejudice. 
The  proficients  in  this  Order  are  therefore  juftly  named 
the  Illuminated.  And  of  all  Illumination  which  hu- 
man reafon  can  give,  none  is  comparable  to  the  difco- 
very  of  what  we  are,  our  nature,  our  obligations,  what 
happinefs  we  are  capable  of,  and  what  are  the  means  of 
attaining  it.  In  comparifon  with  this,  the  moft  brilliant 
fciences  are  but  amufements  for  the  idle  and  luxurious. 
To  fit  man  by  Illumination  for  a6live  virtue,  to  engage 
him  to  it  by  the  ftrongeft  motives,  to  render  the  attain- 
ment of  it  eafy  and  certain,  by  finding  employment  for 
every  talent,  and  by  placing  every  talent  in  its  proper 
fphere  of  aBion,  fo  that  all,  without  feeling  any  extra- 
ordinary effort,  and  in  conjunftion  with  and  completion 
of  ordinary  bufmefs,  fhall  urge  forward,  with  united 
powers,  the  general  tafl^.  This  indeed  will  be  an  em- 
ployment fuited  to  noble  natures,  grand  in  its  views, 
and  delightful  in  its  exercife. 

"  And  what  is  this  general  obje8;  ?  The  h  appt  x  e  s  s 
OF  THE  HUMAN  RACE.  Is  it  uot  diftrcffmg  to  a  ge- 
nerous mind,  after  contemplating  what  human  nature  is 
capable  of,  to  fee  how  little  we  enjoy  ?  When  we  look 
at  this  goodly  world,  and  fee  that  every  man  may  be 
happy,  but  that  the  happinefs  of  one  depends  on  the 


THE  ILLUMIMATI.  95 

conduEl  oranother ;  when  we  fee  the  wicked  fo  powerful, 
and  the  good  fo  weak  ;  and  that  it  is  in  vain  to  ftrive, 
fingly  and  alone,  againft  the  general  current  of  vice  and 
oppreffion;  the  wiih  naturally  arifes  in  the  mind,  that 
it  were  poflible  to  form  a  durable  combination  of  the 
moft  worthy  perfons,  who  Ihould  w^ork  together  in  re- 
moving the  obftacles  to  human  happinefs,  become  ter- 
rible to  the  wicked,  and  give  their  aid  to  all  the  good 
without  diltintlion,  and  fhould  by  the  mod  powerful 
pieans,  firft  fetter,  and  by  fettering,  leilen  vice ;  mean$ 
which  at  the  fame  time  Ihould  promote  virtue,  by  ren- 
dering the  inclination  to  retlitude,  hitherto  too  feeble, 
more  powerful  and  engaging.  Would  not  fuch  an  affo- 
ciation  be  a  bleffing  to  the  v/orld  ? 

"  But  where  are  the  proper  perfons,  the  good,  the 
generous,  and  the  accomplilhed,  to  be  found  ?  and 
how,  and  by  what  ftrong  motives,  are  they  to  be  indu- 
ced to  engage  in  a  tafk  fo  vaft,  fo  incelTant,  fo  difficult, 
and  fo  laborious  ?  This  Affociation  mull  be  gradual. 
There  art  fome  fuch  perfons  to  be  foimd  in  every  focie- 
ty.  Such  noble  minds  will  be  engaged  by  the  heart- 
warming objeB;.  The  firft  tafic  of  the  Affociation  muft 
therefore  be  to  form  the  young  members.  As  thefe 
multiply  and  advance,  they  become  the  apoftles  of  be- 
neficence, and  the  work  is  now  on  foot,  and  advances 
with  a  fpeed  encreafing  every  day.  The  llighteft  obfer- 
vation  fliows  that  nothing  w^ill  fo  mtich  contribute  to  in- 
creafe  the  zeal  of  the  members  as  fecret  union.  We 
fee  with  what  keennefs  and  zeal  the  frivolous  bufinefs  of 
Free  Mafonry  is  conducted,  by  perfons  knit  together 
by  the  fecrecy  of  their  union.  It  is  needlefs  to  enquire 
into  the  caufes  of  this  zeal  which  fecrecy  produces.  It 
is  an  univerfal  fa6l,  confirmed  by  the  hiftory  of  every 
age.     Let  this  circumdance  of  our  conititution  there- 


9*^ 


THE  ILLUMINATI. 


fore  be  direfted  to  this  noble  purpofe,  and  then  all  the 
obje£lions  urged  againft  it  by  jealous  tyranny  and  af- 
frighted fuperftition  will  vanifh.  The  Order  will  thus 
work  filently,  and  fecurely  ;  and  though  the  generous 
benefaftors  of  the  human  race  are  thus  deprived  of  the 
applaufe  of  the  world,  they  have  the  noble  pleafure  of 
feeing  their  work  profper  in  their  hands." 

Such  is  the  aim,  and  fuch  are  the  hopes  of  the  Order 
of  the  Illuminated.  Let  us  now  fee  how  thefe  were  to 
be  accompliflied.  We  cannot  judge  precifeiy  of  this, 
becaufe  the  account  given  of  the  conftitution  of  the  Or- 
der by  its  founder  includes  only  the  loweft  degree,  and 
even  this  is  fufpefted  to  be  fi6litious.  The  accounts 
given  by  the  four  Profeffors,  even  of  this  part  of  the 
Order,  make  a  very  different  imprefTion  on  the  mind, 
although  they  differ  only  in  a  few  particulars. 

The  only  oftenfible  members  of  the  Order  M'ere  the 
Minervals.  They  were  to  be  found  only  in  the  Lodges 
of  Free  Mafons.  A  candidate  for  admiffion  muil  make 
his  wifti  known  to  fome  Minerval ;  he  reports  it  to  a 
Superior,  who,  by  a  channel  to  be  explained  prefently, 
intimates  it  to  the  Council.  No  notice  is  farther  taken 
of  it  for  fome  time.  The  candidate  is  carefully  obfer- 
ved  in  filence,  and  if  thought  unfit  for  the  Order,  no 
notice  is  taken  of  his  folicitation.  But  if  otherwife,  the 
candidate  receives  privately  an  invitation  to  a  confer- 
ence. Here  he  meets  with  a  perfon  unknown  to  him, 
and,  previous  to  all  further  conference,  he  is  required 
to  perufe  and  to  fign  the  following  oath. 

"I  N.  N.  hereby  bind  myfelf,  by  mine  honor  and 
good  name,  forfwearing  all  mental  refervation,  never  to 
revealj  by  hint,  word,  writing,  or  in  any  manner  what- 


THE  ILLUMINATL  95 

ever,  even  to  my  moft  trufted  friend,  any  thing  that 
Ihall  now  be  faid  or  done  to  me  refpefting  my  wifhed- 
for  reception,  and  this  wheth^^r  my  reception  fliall  fol- 
low or  net ;  I  being  previoufly  affured  that  it  Ihall  con- 
tain nothing  contrary  to  religion,  the  ftate,  nor  good 
manners.  I  promife,  that  I  fhall  make  no  intelligible 
extraft  from  any  papers  which  fhall  be  fliewn  me  now 
or  during  my  noviciate.  All  this  I  fwear,  as  I  am, 
and  as  I  hope  to  continue,  a  Man  of  Honor." 

The  urbanity  of  this  proteftation  muft  agreeably  im- 
prefs  the  mind  of  a  perfon  who  recolle6ls  the  dreadful  im- 
precations which  he  made  at  his  reception  into  the  dif- 
ferent ranks  of  Free  Mafonry.  The  candidate  is  then 
introduced  to  an  Illuminatus  Dirigens,  whom  perhaps 
he  knows,  and  is  told  that  this  perfon  is  to  be  his  future 
inftru6lor.  There  is  now  prefented  to  the  candidate, 
what  they  call  a  table,  in  which  he  writes  his  name,  place 
of  birth,  age,  rank,  place  of  refidence,  profeflion,  and 
favorite  ftudies.  He  is  then  made  to  read  feveral  arti- 
cles of  this  table.  It  contains,  ift.  a  very  concife  ac- 
count of  the  Order,  its  connection  with  Free  Mafonry, 
and  its  great  objeft,  the  promoting  the  happinefs  of 
mankind  by  means  of  inftruBion  and  confirmation  in 
virtuous  principles.  2d.  Several  queftions  relative  to 
the  Order.  Among  thefe  are,  "  What  advantages  he 
hopes  to  derive  from  being  a  member  ?  What  he  moft 
particularly  willies  to  learn  ?  What  delicate  queftions 
relative  to  the  life,  the  profpe6ls,  the  duties  of  man,  as 
an  individual,  and  as  a  citizen,  he  wifties  to  have  parti- 
cularly difcuffed  to  him  ?  In  what  refpefts  he  thinks  he 
can  be  of  ufe  to  the  Order  ?  Who  are  his  anceftors,  re- 
lations, friends,  correfpondents,  or  enemies  ?  Whom 
he  thinks  proper  perfons  to  be  received  into  the  Order, 
or  whom  he  thinks  unfit  for  it,  and  the  reafons  for  both 


^  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

opinions  ?"  To  each   of  thefe  queftions   he  muft  give 
fome  anfwer  in  writing. 

The  Novice  and  his  Mentor  arc  known  only  to  each 
<!)ther  ;  perhaps  nothing  more  follows  upon  this ;  if 
oiherwife,  tlie  Mentor  appoints  another  conference,  and 
begins  his  in{lru6tions,  by  giving  him  in  detail  certain 
portions  of  the  conftitution,  and  of  the  fundamental 
rules  of  the  Order.  Of  thefe  the  Novice  muft  give  a 
weekly  account  in  writing.  He  muft  alfo  read,  in  the 
Mentor's  houfe,  a  book  containing  more  of  the  inftruc- 
tions  of  the  Order  ;  but  he  muft  make  no  extracts.  Yet 
from  this  reading  he  muft  derive  all  his  knowledge  ;  and 
Ke  muft  give  an  account  in  writing  of  his  progrefs.  All 
writings  received  from  his  Superiors  muft  be  returned 
with  a  ftated  punctuality.  Thefe  writings  confift  chiefly 
of  important  and  delicate  queftions,  fuited,'  either  to 
the  particular  inclination,  or  to  the  peculiar  tafte  which 
the  candidate  had  difcovered  in  his  fubfcriptions  of  the 
articles  of  the  table,  and  in  his  former  refcripts,  or  to 
the  direction  which  the  Mentor  willies  to  give  to  his 
thoughts. 

Enlightening  the  underftanding,  and  the  rooting  out 
of  prejudices,  are  pointed  out  to  him  as  the  principal 
taflvs  of  his  noviciate.  The  knowledcje  of  hirafelf  is  con- 
fidered  as  preparatory  to  all  other  knowledge.  To  dif- 
clofe  to  him,  by  means  of  the  calm  and  unbiafted  obfer- 
vation  of  his  inftruBor,  what  is  his  own  chara6ler,  his 
moft  vulnerable  fide,  either  in  refpeft  of  temper,  paf- 
fions,  or  prepoffeftions,  .is  therefore  the  moft  effential 
fervicq  that  can  be  done  him.  For  this  purpofe  there  is 
required  of  him  fome  account  of  his  own  condu6l  on 
occafions  where  he  doubted  of  its  propriety  ;  fome  ac- 
count of  his  friendOiips,  of  his  differences  of  opinion, 


THE  ILLUMINATt.  |f 

i^nd  of  his  condu6i  on  fuch  occafions.  From  fuch  rela* 
lions  the  Superior  learns  his  manner  of  thinking  anA 
judging,  and  thofe  propcnfities  which  require  his  chie'f 
attention. 

Having  made  the  candidate  acquainted  with  himfelf, 
he  is  apprifed  that  the  Order  is  not  a  fpeculative,  but 
an  a6live  aflbciation,  engaged  in  doing  good  to  others- 
The  knowledge  of  human  charaQer  is  therefore  of  all 
others  the  moft  important.  This  is  acquired  only  by 
obfervation,  affifted  by  the  ihftruflions  of  his  teacher- 
Charai^lers  in  hiftory  are  propofed  to  him  for  obferva- 
tion, and  his  opinion  is  required.  After  this  he  is  di- 
refted  to  look  around  him,  and  to  notice  the  conduft 
of  other  men  ;  and  part  of  his  weekly  refcripts  muft  con- 
fift  of  accounts  of  all  interefting  occurrences  in  his  neigh- 
bourhood, whether  of  a  public  or  private  nature.  Cof- 
fand^y,  one  of  the  four  Profeffors,  gives  a  particular 
account  of  the  inftruQions  relating  to  this  kind  of  fci- 
ence.  *'  The  Novice  muft  be  attentive  to  trifles  :  For, 
in  frivolous  occurrences  a  man  is  indolent,  and  makes 
no  eflPort  to  a6l  a  part,  fo  that  his  real  charafter  is  then 
a6ling  alone.  Nothing  will  have  fuch  influence  with  the 
Superiors  in  promoting  the  advancement  of  a  candidate 
as  very  copious  narrations  of  this  kind,  becaufe  the  can- 
didate, if  promoted,  is  to  be  employed  in  an  aftive 
ftation,  audit  is  from  this  kind  of  information  only  that 
the  Superiors  can  judge  of  his  fitnefs.  Thefe  charafter- 
iftic  anecdotes  are  not  for  the  inftruftion  of  the  Supe- 
riors, who  are  men  of  long  experience,  and  familiar 
with  fuch  occupation.  But  they  inform  the  Order  con- 
cerning the  talents  and  proficiency  of  the  young  mem- 
ber. Scientific  inftruftion,  being  conne6led  by  fyftem, 
is  foon  communicated,  and  may  in  general  be  very  com- 

N 


^8  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

pletely  obtained  from  the  books  which  are  recommend- 
ed to  the  Novice,  and  acquired  in  the  public  feminaries 
of  inftruftion.  But  knowledge  of  charafter  is  more 
multifarious  and  more  delicate.  For  this  ihere  is  no 
college,  and  it  muft  therefore  require  longer  time  for  its 
attainment.  Befides,  this  afliduous  and  Ions;  continued 
ftudy  of  men,  enables  the  pofleffor  of  fuch  knowledge 
to  aft  with  men,  and  by  his  knowledge  of  their  charac- 
ter, to  influence  their  condutl.  For  fuch  reafons  this 
ftudy  is  continued,  and  thefe  refcripts  are  required,  dur- 
ing the  whale  progrefs  through  the  Order,  and  attention 
to  them  is  recommended  as  the  only  mean  of  advance- 
ment. Remarks  on  Phyfiognomy  in  thefe  narrations 
are  accounted  of  confiderable  value."  So  far  Mr.  Cof- 
..  fandey. 

During  all   this  trial,  which   may    laft  one,  tv/o,  or 

•  three  years,  the  Novice  knows  no  perfon  of  the  Order 
.  but  his  own  inftrudor,  with  whom  he  has  frequent  meet- 
ings, along  with  other  Minervals.  In  thefe  converfati- 
ons  he  learns  the  importance  of  the  Order,  and  the  op- 
portunities he  will  afterwards  have  of  acquiring  much 
hidden  fcience.     The  employment  of  his  unknown  Su- 

.  periors  naturally  caufes  him  to  entertain  very  high  no- 
lions  of  their  abilities  and  worth.     He  is  counfelled  to 
.  aim  at  a  refemblance  to  them  by  getting  rid  by  degrees 

•  of  all  thofe  prejudices  or  prepofl^eflions  which  checked 
.  liis  own  former  progrefs ;  and  he  is  afiTifted  in  this  endea- 
vour by  an  invitation  to  a  correfpondence  with  them, 
He  may  addrefs  his  Provincial  Superior,  by  directing 
liis  letter  Soli,  or  the  General  by  Primo,  or  the  Supe- 
riors in  general  by  Qiiibus,  licet.  In  thefe  letters  he  may 
mention  whatever  he  thinks  conducive  to  the  advance- 
xnem  of  ihe  Order;  he  may  inform  the  Superiors  how 
his  inftruftor  behaves  to  him ;  if  afTiduous  or  remifs,  in- 


THE  ILLUMINATl. 


99 


■dulgent  or  fevere.  The  Sliperiors  are  enjoined  by  the 
{trongeft  motives  to  convey  thefe  letters  wherever  ad- 
dreiTcd.  None  but  the  General  and  Council  know  the 
refult  of  all  this ;  and  all  are  enjoined  to  keep  themfelves 
and  their  proceedings  unknown  to  all  the  world.  .  r 

If  three  years  of  this  Noviciate  have  elapfed  without 
further  notice,  the  Minerval  muft  look  for  no  further 
advancement ;  he  is  found  unfit,  and  remains  a  Free 
Mafon  of  the  higheil  clafs.     This  is  called  a  Sta  bene.  • 

But  fhould  his    Superiors  judge  more  favorably   of 
him,  he  is  drawn  out  of  the  general  mafs  of  Free  .Ma^ 
fons,  and  becomes   Illuminatus  Minor.     When   called 
to  a  conference  for  this  purpofe,  he  is  told  in  the  mofl 
ferious   manner,  that  "  it  is    vain  for  him  to   hope  to 
acquire  wiCdom  by  mere  fyftematic  inftraftion  ;  for  fucli 
inftruftion  the  Superiors  have  no  leifure.     Their  duty 
h  not  to  form  fpeculators,  but  aHive  men,  whom  they 
muft  immediately  employ  in  the  fervice   of  the   Order. 
He  muft  iherefoie  grow  wife  and  able  entirely  by  the 
unfolding  and  exertion  of  his  own  talents.     His  Supe- 
riors have  already  difcovered  what  thefe  are,  and  know 
what  fervice  he  may  be  capable  of  rendering  the  Order, 
provided  he  now  heartily  acquiefces  in    being   thus,  ho- 
norably employed.     They  will   aftift  him   in   bringing 
his  talents  into  aftion,  and  will  place. him  in  the  fituati- 
ons  moft  favorable  for  their  exertion,  fo  that  he  may  be 
ajfured  of  fuccefs.     Hitherto  he  has  been  a  mere  fcholar, 
but  his  firft  ftep  farther  carries  him  into  action;  he  muft 
therefore  now  confider  himfelf  as  an  inftrument  in  .the 
hands  of  his  Superiors,  to  be  ufed  for  the  noblcft  pur- 
pofcs."     The  aim  of  the  Order  is  now  more  fully  told 
him.     It  is,  in  one  fentence,  "  to  make  of  the  humaa 
race,  without  any  diftinQion  of  nation,  condition,  or 


iao  THE  ILLUMINATT. 

profeflion,  one  good  and  happy  family."  To  this  aim^ 
demonftrably  attainable,  every  fmaller  confideration 
muft  give  way.  This  may  fometimes  require  facrrfices 
which  no  man  Handing  alone  has  fortitude  to  make;  but 
which  become  light,  and  a  fource  of  the  pureft  enjoy- 
ment, when  fupported  and  encouraged  by  the  counte- 
nance and  co-operation  of  the  united  wife  and  good, 
fuch  as  are  the  Superiors  of  the  Order.  If  the  candi- 
date, warmed  by  the  alluring  pifture  of  the  poffible  hap- 
pinefs  of  a  virtuous  Society,  fays  that  he  is  lenfible  of 
the  propriety  of  this  procedure,  and  ftill  wifhes  to  be  of 
the  Order,  he  is  required  to  fign  the  following  obliga- 
tion. 

^^  I,  N.  N.  protell  before  you,  the  worthy  Plenipo- 
tentiary of  the  venerable  Order  into  whifh  I  wifh  to  be 
admitted,  that  I  acknowledge  my  natural  weaknefs  and 
inability,  and  that  I,  with  all  my  poffeffions,  rank,  ho- 
nors, and  titles  which  I  hold  in  political  fociety,  am, 
at  bottom,  only  a  man ;  I  can  enjoy  thefe  things  only 
through  my  fellow-men,  and  through  them  alfo  I  may 
lofe  them.  The  approbation  and  confideration  of  my 
fellow-men  are  indifpenlibly  neceflary,  and  I  muft  try 
to  maintain  them  by  all  my  talents.  Thefe  I  will  never 
ufe  to  the  prejudice  of  univerfal  good,  but  will  oppofe, 
with  all  my  might,  the  enemies  of  the  human  race,  and 
of  political  fociety.  I  will  embrace  every  opportunity 
of  faving  mankind,  by  improving  my  underftanding  and 
my  affeftionsj  and  by  imparting  all  important  know- 
ledge, as  the  good  and  ftatutes  of  this  Order  require  of 
me.  I  bind  myfelf  to  perpetual  filence  and  unlbaken 
loyalty  and  fubmiffion  to  the  Order,  in  the  perfons  of 
my  Superiors  ;  here  making  a  faithful  and  complete  f«r- 
lender  of  my  private  judgment,  my  own  will,  and  eve- 
ry narrow-minded  employment  of  my  power  and  inEu* 


THE  ILLUMINATE  4QJ 

ciTce.  r  pledge  my  felf  to  account  the  good  of  the  Or-r 
der  as  my  ov/n,  aijd  am  ready  to  lerve  it  with  my  for-,^ 
tune,  my  honor,  and  my  blood.  Should  ^,  through 
omiflion,  neglect,  paflion,  or  wickednefs,  behave  con- 
trary to  this  good  of  the  Order,  I  fubje6t  my  felf  to  what 
reproof  or  punifliment  my  Superiors  fhall  enjoin.  The 
friends  and  enemies  of  the  Order  fhall  be  my  friend.'i 
and  enemies ;  and  with  refpeft  to  both  I  will  ,condu8; 
myfwlf  a«  direded  by  the  Order,  and  am  ready,  in  every 
lawful  way,  to  devote  my  felf  to  its  increafe  and  promo- 
lion,  and  therein  to  employ  all  my  ability.  All  this  I 
promife,  and  proteft,  without  fecret  rpfervation,  accord- 
ing to  the  intention  of  the  Society  which  require  from 
me  this  engagement.  This  I  do  as  I  am,  and  as  I  hope* 
to  continue,  a  Man  of  Honor." 

A  drawn  fword  is  then  pointed  at  his  bread,  and  he 
is  afl-Led,  Will  you  be  obedient  to  the  commands  of 
your  Superiors  ?  He  is  threatened  with  unavoidable 
vengeance,  from  which  no  potentate  can  defend  him,  if 
he  fhould  ever  betray  the  Order.  He  is  then  alkcd,  i. 
What  aim  does  he  wifh  the  Order  to  have  ?  ^,  What 
means  he  would  choofe  to  advance  this  aim  ?  3.  Whom 
he  wifhes  to  keep  out  of  the  Order  ?  4.  What  fubjeds 
he  wiflies  not  to  be  difcuffed  in  it  ? 

Our  candidate  is  now  Illuminatus  Minor.  It 
is  needlefs  to  narrate  the  mummery  of  reception,  and  it 
is  enough  to  fay,  that  it  nearly  refembles  that  of  the 
Mafonic  Chevalier  du  Soleil,  known  to  every  one  much 
converfant  in  Mafonry.  Weifhaupt's  preparatory  dif- 
courfe  of  reception  is  a  piece  of  good  compolition, 
whether  confidered  as  argumentative  (from  topics,  in- 
iieed,  tliat  are  very  gratuitous  and  fanciful)  or  as  a 
ipecimen  of  that  decUmatiga  which  was  [o  much  prac- 


102  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

tifed  by  Libanius  and  the  other  Sophifts,  and  it  gives  a 
diltintl  and  captivating  account  of  the  profeil'ed  aim  of 
the  Order. 

The    Illuminatus  Minor   learns  a  good  deal  more  of 
the  Order,  but  by  very  fparing  morfels,  under  the  iame 
inftru^tor.      The  tafls.  has  now  become  more  delicate  and 
difficult.     The  chief  part  of  it  is  the  rooting  out  ofpie- 
judices   in  politics   and   religion  ;  and   Weifbaupt  has 
fhown  much    addrefs    in  the  method  which  he  has   em- 
ployed.    Not   the  moll  hurtful,  but  the  mod  eafily  re- 
futed, were  the    firlt  fubjetts  of  difcufiion,  fo  that  the 
pupil  gets  into  the  habits  of  viftory  ;  and  his  reverence 
for  the  fy'iems  of  either   kind   is  diminifhed  when  they 
are  found  to  have   harboured  fuch  untenable  opinions. 
The  proceedings   in  the   Ecletlic   Lodges  of   Mafonry, 
and  the  harangues  of  the  Brother  Orators,  teemed  with 
the  boldeft  fentiments  both  in  politics  and  religion.     En  - 
lightening,  and  the  triumph  of  reafon,  had  been  the  ton 
of  the  country  for  fome  time  pad,  and  every  inftitution, 
civil  and  religious,  had  been  the  fubjetl  of  the  moll  free 
criticifm.     Above  all,  the  Cofmo-politifm,  which  had 
been  imported  from    France,  where  it  had  been  the  fa- 
vorite topic  of  the  enthufiaftical  ceconomifts,  was  now 
become  a  general  theme  of  difcuffion  in  all  focieties  of 
cultivated  men.     It  was  a  fubje8  of  eafy  and  agreeable 
declamation  ;  and  the  Literati  found  in  it  a  fubj eel  ad- 
mirably fitted  for  Ihowing  their  talents,  and  ingratiating 
themfelves  with  the  young  men  of  fortune,  whofe  minds, 
unfufpicious  as  yet  and  generous,  were  fired  with  the  fair 
profpefts  fet  before  them   of  univerfal   and   attainable 
happinefs.      And  the  pupils  of  the  Illuminati  were  llill 
more  warmed  by  the   thought   that  they  were  to  be  the 
happy    inftruments   of    accompiifliing   all    this.      And 
though  the   doQrincs  of  uni\  eriV.l  liberty  and  equality^ 


THE  ILLUMINATI,  .log 

as  imprcfcriptible  rights  of  man,  might  fomethnesftartle 
thofe  who  poffefTcd  the  advantage  of  fortune,  there  were 
tiioufands  of  younger  fons,  and  of  men  of  talents  without 
fortune,  to  whom  thefe  were  agreeable  founds.  And 
we  muil  particularly  obferve,  that  thofe  who  were  now 
the  pupils  were  a  fet  of  picked  fubjefts,  whofe  charac- 
ters and  peculiar  biafes  were  well  known  by  their  con- 
duft  during  their  noviciate  as  Minervals.  They  were 
therefore  fuch  as,  in  all  probability,  would  not  boggle 
at  very  free  fcntimcnts.  We  might  rather  expeft  a  par- 
tiality to  do61rines  which  removed  fome  reftraints  which 
formerly  checked  them  in  the  indulgence  of  youthful 
paffions.  Their  inftruQors,  who  have  thus  relieved  their 
minds  from  feveral  anxious  thoughts,  muft  appear  men 
of  fuperior  minds.  This  was  a  notion  mod  carefully 
inculcated  ;  and  they  could  fee  nothing  to  contradift  it ; 
for  except  their  own  Mentor,  they  knew  none  ;  they 
heard  of  Superiors  of  different  ranks,  but  never  faw 
them  ;  and  the  fame  mode  of  inftruftion  that  was  prac- 
tifed  during  their  noviciate  was  ftill  retained.  More 
particulars  of  the  Order  were  flowly  unfolded  to  them, 
and  they  were  taught  that  their  Superiors  were  men  of 
difhingui fired  talents,  and  were  Superiors  for  this  reafon 
alone.  They  were  taught,  that  the  great  opportunities 
which  the  Superiors  had  for  obfervation,  and  their  ha- 
bits of  continually  occupying  their  thoughts  with  the 
great  obje6ls  of  this  Order,  had  enlarged  their  views, 
even  far  beyond  the  narrow  limits  of  nations  and  king- 
doms, which  they  hoped  would  one  day  coalefce  into 
one  great  Society,  where  conhderation  would  attach  to 
talents  and  worth  alone,  and  that  pre-eminence  in  thefe 
would  be  invariably  attended  with  all  the  enjoyments  of 
influence  and  power.  And  they  v/ere  told  that  they 
would  gradually  become  acquainted  with  thefe  great  and 
venerable    Characters,  as   they  advanced  in  the  Order. 


104  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

In  eamc{^  of  this,  tliey  were  made  acquainted  with  one 
or  two  Superiors,  and  with  feveral  lUumiiiati  of  their 
own  rank.  Alfo,  to  whet  their  zeal,  they  are  now  made 
infiruftors  of  one  or  two  Minerval;;,  and  report  their 
progrefs  to  their  Superiors.  They  are  given  to  under- 
Hand  that  nothing  can  fo  much  recommend  them  as  the 
iucccrs  with  which  they  perform  this  tafk.  It  is  decla- 
red to  be  the  beft  evidence  of  their  ufefulnefs  in  the 
great  dehgns  of  the  Order. 

The  baleful  effefls  of  general  fuperftition,  and  even 
ofany  peculiar  religious  prepolleffion,  are  now  ftrongty 
inculcated,  and  the  difcernment  of  the  pupils  in  thefe 
matters  is  learn 'sl  by  queltions  which  are  given  them 
from  time  to  time  to  difcufs.  Thefe  are  managed  with 
delicacy  and  circumfpetlion,  that  the  timid  may  not  be 
alarmed.  In  like  manner,  the  political  dotlrines  of  the 
Order  are  inculcated  with  the  utmoft  caution.  After  the 
mind  of  the  pupil  has  been  warmed  by  the  pidures  of 
univerfal  happincfs,  and  convinced  that  it  is  a  pofTible 
thing  to  unite  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  in  one  great 
fociety,  and  after  it  has  been  made  out,  in  fome  mea- 
fure  to  the  fatisfaftion  of  the  pupil,  that  a  great  addition 
of  happinefs  is  gained  by  the  abolition  of  national  dif- 
tin6lions  and  animohties,  it  may  frequently  be  no  hard 
tafk  to  make  him  think  that  patriotifm  is  a  narrow-mind- 
ed monopolifing  fentiment,  and  even  incompatible  with 
the  more  enlarged  views  of  the  Order,  namely,  the 
uniting  the  whole  human  race  into  one  great  and  happy 
fociety.  Princes  are  a  chief  feature  of  national  diftinc- 
tion.  Princes,  therefore,  may  now  be  fafely  reprefent- 
ed  as  unneceffary.  If  fo,  loyalty  to  Princes  lofes  much 
of  its  facred  charaQer;  and  the  fo  frequent  enforcing  of 
it  in  our  common  political  difcuflions  may  now  be  eafily 
made  to   appear  a  felfifli  maxim  of  rulers,  by   whick 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  105 

they  may  more  eafily  enflave  the  people  ;  and  thus,  it 
may  at  laft  appear,  that  religion,  the  love  of  our  parti- 
cular country,  and  loyalty  to  our  Prince,  fhould  be  re- 
filled, if,  by  thefe  partial  or  narrow  views,  we  prevent 
the  accomplifhment  of  that  Cofmo-political  happinefs 
which  is  continually  held  forth  as  the  great  obj  eft  of  the 
Order.  It  is  in  this  point  of  view  that  the  terms  of  de- 
votion to  the  Order  which  are  inferted  in  the  oath  of  ad- 
miffion  are  now  explained.  The  authority  of  the  ruling 
powers  is  therefore  reprefented  as  of  inferior  moral 
weight  to  that  of  the  Order.  "  Thefe  powers  are  def- 
pots,  when  they  do  not  condu6l  themfelves  by  its  prin- 
ciples ;  and  it  is  therefore  our  duty  to  furround  them 
with  its  members,  fo  that  the  profane  may  have  no  ac- 
cefs  to  them.  Thus  we  are  able  nioft  powerfully  to 
promote  its  interefts.  If  any  perfon  is  more  difpofed  to 
liften  to  Princes  than  to  the  Order,  he  is  not  fit  for  it,  and 
hiuft  rife  no  higher.  We  muft  do  our  utmofl  to  pro- 
cure the  advancement  of  lUuminati  into  all  important 
civil  offices." 

Accordingly  the  Order  laboured  in  this  with  great 
zeal  and  fuccefs.  A  correfpondence  was  difcovered, 
in  which  it  is  plain,  that  by  their  influence,  one  of  the 
greateft  ecclefiaftical  dignities  was  filled  up  in  oppoiition 
to  the  right  and  authority  of  the  Archbifhop  of  Spire, 
who  is  there  reprefented  as  a  tyrannical  and  bigotted 
prieft.  They  contrived  to  place  their  Members  as  tu- 
tors to  the  youth  of  diftinBion.  One  of  them,  Baron 
Leuchtfenring,  took  the  charge  of  a  young  prince  with- 
out any  falary.  They  infinuated  themfelves  into  all 
public  offices,  and  particularly  into  courts  of  juftice. 
"In  like  manner,  the  chairs  in  the  Univerfity  of  Ingol- 
iladt  were    (with  only  two  exceptions)  occupied   by 

O 


io6  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

Illuminati.  "  Rulers  who  are  members  muft  be  pro 
iHOted  through  the  ranks  of  the  Order  only  in  proporti- 
on as  they  acknowledge  the  goodnefs  of  its  great  object, 
and  manner  of  procedure.  Its  objeft  may  be  faid  to 
be  the  checking  the  tyranny  of  princes,  nobles,  and 
priefts,  and  eftablifliing  an  univerfal  equality  of  condi- 
tion and  of  religion."  The  pupil  is  now  informed 
'^  that  fuch  a  religion  is  contained  in  the  Order,  is  the 
perfe6lion  of  Chriftianity,  and  will  be  imparted  to  him 
in  due  time." 

Thefe  and  other  principles  and  maxims  of  the  Order 
are  partly  communicated  by  the  verbal  inftruftion  of 
the  Mentor,  partly  by  writings,  which  muft  be  punB.u- 
ally  returned,  and  partly  read  by  the  pupil  at  the  Men- 
tor's houfe  (but  without  taking  extracts)  in  fuch  por- 
tions as  he  fhall  dired.  The  refcripts  by  the  pupil  mull 
contain  difcuflions  on  thefe  fubjefts,  and  of  anecdotes 
and  defcriptions  of  living  charatlers ;  and  thefe  muft  be 
zealoufly  continued,  as  the  chief  mean  of  advancement. 
All  this  while  the  pupil  knows  only  his  Mentor,  the 
Minervals,  and  a  few  otliers  of  his  own  rank.  All  men- 
tion of  degrees,  or  other  buhnefs  of  the  Order,  muft 
be  carefully  avoided,  even  in  the  meetings  with  other 
Members  :  "  For  the  Order  wifiies  to  be  fecret,  and  to 
work  in  filence;  for  thus  it  is  better  fecured  from  the 
oppreftion  of  the  ruling  powers,  and  becaufe  this  fccrecy 
gives  a  greater  zeft  to  the  whole." 

This  fiiort  account  of  the  Noviciate,  and  of  the  low- 
eft  clafs  of  Illuminati,  is  all  wc  can  get  from  the  autho- 
rity of  Mr.  Weilhaupt.  The  higher  degrees  were  not 
publiflied  by  him.  Many  circumftanccs  appear  fufpi- 
cious,  and  are  certainly  fufceptible  of  different  turns, 
and  may  eafily  be  puihed  to  very  dangerous  extremes. 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  107 

The  accounts  given  by  the  four  profelTors  confirm  thefe 
fufpicions.  They  declare  upon  oath,  that  they  make 
all  thefe  accufations  in  confequence  of  what  they  heard 
in  the  Meetings,  and  of  what  they  knew  of  the  Higher 
Orders. 

But  fnice  the  time  of  the  fuppreffion  by  the  Elector, 
difcoveries  have  been  made  which  throw  great  light  on 
the  fubjeO:.  A  coUeftion  of  original  papers  andcorref- 
pondence  was  found  by  fearching  the  houfe  of  one 
Zwack  (a  Member)  in  1786.  The  following  year  a 
much  larger  colleftion  was  found  at  thelioufe  of  Baron 
Baffus  ;  and  fince  that  time  Baron  Knigge,  the  moll  ac- 
tive Member  next  to  Weifliaupt,  publifhed  an  account 
of  fome  of  the  higher  degrees,  which  had  been  formed 
by  himfelf.  A  long  while  after  this  were  publifhed,  Ntiicf- 
ie  Arbeitung  des  Spartacus  und  Philo  in  der  Illuminakn 
Or  den,  and  Holier  e  Granden  des  Ilium.  Or  dens.  Thefe 
two  works  give  an  account  of  the  whole  fecret  conftitu- 
tion  of  the  Order,  its  various  degrees,  the  manner  of 
conferring  them,  the  inftru6t;ions  to  the  intrants,  and  an 
explanation  of  the  connection  of  the  Order  with  Free 
Mafonry,  and  a  critical  hiilory.  We  fliall  give  fome 
extra6ts  from  fucli  of  thefe  as  have  been  publillied. 

Weifliaupt  was  the  founder  in  1776.  In  1778  the 
number  of  Members  was  confiderably  increafed,  and 
the  Order  was  fully  eftablilhcd.  The  Members  took 
antique  names.  Thus  Weifliaupt  took  the  name  of 
Spartacus,  the  man  who  headed  the  infurre6tion  of 
flaves,  which  in  Pompey's  time  kept  Rome  in  terror  and 
uproar  for  three  years.  Zwack  was  called  Cato.  Knigge 
was  Philo.  Baffus  was  Hannibal.  Hertel  was  Marius. 
Marquis  Conftanza  was  Diomedes.  Nicholai,  an  emi- 
ment  and  learned  bookfeller  in  Berlin,  and  author  offe- 


io8  THE  ILLUiMINATI. . 

veral  works  of  reputation,  took  the  name  of  Lucian,  the, 
great  fcoffer  at  all  religion.  Another  was  Mahomet^ 
&c.  It  is  remarkable,  that  except  Cato  and  Socrates, 
\ve  have  not  a  name  of  any  ancient  who  was  eminent  as 
a  teacher  and  pra8:ifer  of  virtue.  On  the  contrary,, 
they  feem  to  have  affected  the  characters  of  the  free- 
thinkers and  turbulent  fpirits  of  antiquity.  In  t^  fame 
manner  they  gave  ancient  names  to  the  cities  and  coun- 
tries of  Europe.  Munich  was  Athens,  Vienna  was 
Rome,  &c» 

Sparjacus  to  Cato^  Feb.  6^  lyjS. 

"  Mon  hit  ejl  de  /aire  valoir  la  raifon.  As  a  fubor- 
dinate  object  I  ihall  endeavour  to  gain  fecurity  to  our- 
felves,  a  backing  m  cafe  of  misfortunes,  and  afliflance 
from  without.  I  fliall  therefore  prefs  the  cultivation  of 
fcience,  efpecially  fuch  fciences  as  may  have  an  influ- 
ence on  our  reception  in  the  wodd,  and  may  ferve  ta 
remove  obftacles  out  of  the  way.  We  have  to  ftruggls 
■with  pedantry,  with  intolerance,  with  divines  and  flatef- 
men,  and  above  all,  princes  and  priefls  are  in  our  way. 
Men  are  unfit  as  they  are,  and  muft  be  foimed  ;  each 
clafs  muft  be  the  fchool  of  trial  for  the  next.  This  \<'ill 
be  tedious,  becaufe  it  is  hazardous.  In  tiie  laft  claffes. 
I  propofe  academies  under  the  dire6lion  of  the  Order. 
This  will  fecure  us  the  adherence  of  the  Literati.  Sci- 
ence fliall  here  be  the  lure.  Only  thofe  who  are  afiur- 
edly  proper  fubjecls  fhall  be  picked  out  from  among  the 
inferior  claffes  for  the  higher  myfteries,  which  contain, 
the  firft  principles  and  means  of  promoting  a  happy  life. 
No  religionift  muft,  on  any  account,  be  admitted  into 
thefe  :  For  here  we  work  at  the  difcovery  and  extirpa- 
tion of  fuperftition  and  prejudices.  The  inftru6lions 
fliall  be  fo  conducted  that  each  fhall  difclofe  what  h& 


THE  ILLUxMINATL  109 

thinks  he  conceals  within  his  own  breaft,  what  are  his 
ruling  propenfities  and  paffions,  and  how  far  he  has  ad- 
vanced in  the  command  of  himfelf.  This  will  anfwer 
all  the  purpofes  of  auricular  confeffion.  And  in  parti-* 
cular,  every  perfon  fhall  be  made  a  fpy  on  another  and 
on  all  around  him.  Notliing  can  efcape  our  fight ;  by 
thefe  means  we  fhall  readily  difcover  who  are  contented, 
and  receive  with  relifh  the  peculiar  {late-do6lrines  and 
religious  opinions  that  are  laid  before  them  ;  and,  at 
laft,  the  truft-worthy  alone  will  be  admitted  to  a  partici- 
pation of  the  whole  maxims  and  political  conftitution  of 
the  Order.  In  a  council  compofed  of  fuch  members 
we  fhall  labour  at  the  contrivance  of  means  to  drive  by 
degrees  the  enemies  of  reafon  and  of  humanity  out  of 
the  world,  and  to  eftabliHi  a  peculiar  morality  and  reli- 
gion fitted  for  the  great  Society  of  mankind. 

"  But  this  is  a  ticklifh  projeB;,  and  requires  the  ut- 
moft  circumfpe£lion.  The  fqueamifh  will  Hart  at  the 
fight  of  religious  or  political  novelties  ;  and  they  muft 
be  prepared  for  them.  We  muft  be  particularly  care- 
ful about  the  books  which  we  recommend  ;  1  {hall  con- 
fine them  at  firft  to  moralifts  and  reafoning  hiitorians. 
This  will  prepare  for  a  patient  reception,  in  the  higher 
dalles,  of  works  of  a  bolder  flight,  fuch  as  Robinet's 
Syjleme  de  la  Nature-— Politique  Natiirelle — Philojophie 
de  la  Nature — Syjleme  Social — The  writings  of  Mira- 
baud,  &c.  Helvetius  is  fit  only  for  the  ftrongeft  fto- 
machs.  If  any  one  has  a  copy  already,  neither  praife 
lior  find  fault  with  him.  Say  nothing  on  Inch  fubjeBs 
to  intrants,  for  we  don't  know  how  they  will  be  received 
-^folks  are  not  yet  prepared.  Marius,  an  excellent 
man,  muft  be  dealt  with.  His  ftoraach,  which  cannot 
yet  digeft  fuch  ftrong  food,  muft  acquire  a  better  tone. 
The  allegory  on  which  1  am  to  found  the  myileries  of 


110  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

the  Higher  Orders  is  the  Jire-worfhip  of  the  Magi.  We 
mull  have  fome  worfhip,  and  none  is  fo  appofite.     Let 

THERE      BE    LIGHT,    AND     THEPvE     SHALL      BE    LIGHT. 

This  is  my  motto,  and  is  my  fundamental  principle. 
The  degrees  will  be  Feuer  Orden,  Parjcn  Ordcn  ;*  all 
very  pra6licable.  In  the  courfe  through  thefe  there  will 
be  no  STA  bene  (this  is  the  anfwer  given  to  one  who 
folicits  preferment,  and  is  refufed.)  For  I  engage  that 
jione  fiiall  enter  this  clafs  who  has  not  laid  afide  his  pre- 
judices. No  man  is  fit  for  our  Order  who  is  not  a  Bru- 
tus or  a  Catiline,  and  is  not  ready  to  go  every  length. 
■ — Tell  me  how  you  like  this  ?" 

Spartacus  to  Cato,  March  1778. 

"  To  collect  unpubliflied  works,  and  information 
from  the  archives  of  States,  will  be  a  mofl  ufeful  fervice. 
We  fliall  be  able  to  fliow  in  a  very  ridiculous  light  the 
claims  of  our  defpots.  Marius  (keeper  of  the  archives 
of  the  Eleftorate)  has  ferreted  out  a  noble  document, 
which  we  have  got.  He  makes  it,  forfooth,  a  cafe  of 
confcience — how  filly  that — fmce  only  that  is^n,  which 
is  ultimately  produtlive  of  mifchief.  In  this  cafe,  where 
the  advantage  far  exceeds  the  hurt,  it  is  meritorious  vir- 
tue. It  will  do  more  good  in  our  hands  than  by  remain- 
ing for  1000  years  on  the  dufty  flielf." 

There  was  found  in  the  hand-writing  of  Zwack  a  pro- 
je6l  for  a  Sifterhood,  in  fubferviency  to  the  defigns  of  the 
Illuminati.     In  it  are  the  following  paflages  : 

*  This  is  evidently  the  Myjiere  du  3Ttthrus  mentioned  by  Bar- 
ruel,  in  his  Hiftory  of  Jacobinifm,  and  had  been  carried  into  France 
by  Bede  and  Bufche. 


THE  ILLUMINATE  iii 

**  It  will  be  of  great  fervice,  and  procure  us  both 
much  information  and  money,  and  will  fuit  charmingly 
the  tafle  of  many  of  our  truefh  members,  who  are  lovers 
of  the  fex.  It  fhould  confift  of  two  clalTes,  the  virtuous, 
and  the  freer  hearted  (i.  e.  thofe  who  fly  out  of  the  com- 
mon tra6l  of  prudifli  manners)  ;  they  muft  not  know  of 
each  other,  and  mull  be  under  the  diredion  of  men, 
but  without  knowing  it.  Proper  books  muft  be  put  in- 
to their  hands,  and  fuch  (but  fecretly)  as  are  flattering  tou 
their  paflions." 

There  are,  in  the  fame  hand-writing,  Defcription  of  a 
ftrong  box,  which,  if  forced  open,  fliall  blow  up  and  def- 
troy  its  contents— ^Several  receipts  for  procuring  abor- 
tion— A  compofition  which  blinds  or  kills  when  fpurted 
in  the  face — A  flieet,  containing  a  receipt  for  fympa- 
thetic  ink — Tea  for  procuring  abortion — Herha;  qucs 
hahent  qualitatem  deleteriam — A  method  for  filling  a 
bed-chamber  with  peftilential  vapours — How  to  take  off 
impreflions  of  feals,  fo  as  to  ufe  them  aftersvards  as  feals 
— A  colleftion  of  fome  hundreds  of  fuch  impreflions, 
with  a  lift  of  their  owners,  princes,  nobles,  clergymen, 
merchants,  &c. — A  receipt  ad  cxcitandum  Jurorem  ute- 
rinum— A  manufcript  entitled,  "  Better  than  Horus." 
It  was  afterwards  printed  and  diftributed  at  Leipzig  fair, 
and  is  an  attack  and  bitter  fatire  on  all  religion.  This 
is  in  the  hand-writing  of  Ajax.  As  alfo  a  difTertation 
on  fuicide.  N.  B.  His  fifter-in-law  threw  herfelf  from 
the  top  of  a  tower.  There  was  alfo  a  fet  of  portraits, 
or  chara8ers  of  eighty-five  ladies  in  Munich  ;  with  re- 
commendations of  fome  of  them  for  members  of  a 
Lodge  of  Sifter  Illuminatac;  alfo  injuR6lions  to  ail  iho.  ■ 
Superiors  to  learn  to  write  with  both  liands ;  and  thai; 
tliey  fhould  ufe  more  than  Qne  cypher. 


112  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

Immmediately  after  the  publication  of  thefe  writings, 
many  defences  appeared.  It  was  faid  that  the  dreadful 
ip.edical  apparatus  were  v/ith  propriety  in  the  hands  of 
Counfellor  Zwack,  who  was  a  judge  of  a  criminal  court, 
and  whofe  duty  it  was  therefore  to  know  fuch  things. 
The  fame  excufe  w'as  offered  for  the  colleftion  of  feals; 
but  how  came  thefe  things  to  be  put  up  with  papers  of 
the  Illuminati,  and  to  be  in  the  hand  writing  of  one  of 
that  Order  ?  V>"ei{liaupt  fays,  "  Thefe  things  w^ere  not 
carried  into  efFe8: — only  fpoken  of,  and  are  juftifiable 
when  taken  in  proper  connexion."  This  however  he 
has  not  pointed  out ;  but  he  appeals  to  the  account  of 
the  Order,  which  he  had  publilhed  at  Regenfburg,  and 
in  which  neither  thefe  things  are  to  be  found,  nor  any 
poffibility  of  a  connection  by  which  they  may  be  jufti- 
fied.  "  All  men,  fays  he,  are  fubjeft  to  errors,  and 
the  beft  man  is  he  who  beft  conceals  them.  I  have  ne- 
ver been  guilty  of  any  fuch  vices  or  follies  :  for  proof, 
I  appeal  to  the  whole  tenor  of  my  life,  which  my  repu- 
tation, and  my  ftruggles  with  hoftile  cabals,  had  brought 
completely  into  public  view  long  before  the  inftitution 
of  this  Order,  without  abating  any  thing  of  that  flatter- 
ing regard  which  was  paid  to  me  by  the  firft  perfons  of 
my  country  and  its  neighbourhood  ;  a  regard  well  evin- 
ced by  their  confidence  in  me  as  the  beft  inftru6lor  of 
their  children."  In  fome  of  his  private  letters,  we  learn 
the  means  v;hich  he  employed  to  acquire  this  influence 
among  the  youth,  and  they  are  fuch  as  could  not  fail. 
But  we  muft  not  anticipate.  "  It  is  w^ell  known  that  I 
have  made  the  chair  which  I  occupied  in  the  univerfity 
of  Ingoiftadt,  the  refort  of  the  firft  clafs  of  the  German 
youth ;  whereas  formerly  it  had  only  brought  round  it 
the  low-born  praftitioners  in  the  courts  of  law\  I  have 
gone  through  the  whole  circle  of  human  enquiry.  I 
have  exorcifed   fpirits — raifed  ghofts — difcovered  trea- 


THE  ILLUMINATL  113 

fares — interrogated  the  Cabala — hatt'e  Loto  g'efpielt — I 
have  never  tranfmuted  metals." — (A  very  pretty  and 
refpeftable  circle  indeed,  and  what  vulgar  fpirits  would 
fcarcely  have  included  within  the  pale  of  their  curioli- 
ty.)  '  "  The  tenor  of  my  life  has  been  the  oppofite  of 
every  thing  that  is  vile ;  and  no  man  can  lay  any  fuch 
thing  to  my  charge.  I  have  reafon  to  rejoice  that  thefe 
writings  have  appeared  ;  they  are  k  vindication  of  the 
Order  and  of  my  condu6l.  I  can,  and  muft  declare  to 
God,  and  I  do  it  now  in  the  moft  folemn  manner,  that 
in  my  whole  life  I  never  faw  or  heard  of  the  fo  much 
condemned  fecret  writings ;  and  in  particular,  repe6t- 
iTJg  thefe  abominable  means,  fuch  as  poifoning,  abor- 
tiofi,  &c.  was  it  ever  known  to  me  in  any  cafe,  that 
any  of  my  friends  or  acquaintances  ever  even  thought 
of  them,  advifed  them,  or  made  any  ufe  of  them.  I 
was  indeed  always  a  fchemer  and  projector,  but  never 
could  engage  much  in  detail.  My  general  plan  is  good, 
though  in  the  detail  there  may  be  faults.  I  had  myfelf 
to  form.  In  another  fituation,  and  in  an  aftive  ftatid|i 
in  life,  1  fliould  have  been  keenly  occupied,  and  tVfe 
founding  an  Order  would  never  have  come  into  my 
head.  But  I  would  have  executed  much  greater  things, 
had  not  government  always  oppofed  my  exertions,  and 
placed  others  in  the  fituations  which  fuited  my  talents. 
It  was  the  full  convi8:ion  of  this,  and  of  what  could  be 
done,  if  every  man  were  placed  in  the  office  for  which 
he  was  fitted  by  nature  and  a  proper  education,  which 
■firft  fuggefted  to  me  the  plan  of  illumination."  Surely 
Mr.  Weifhaupt  had  a  very  ferious  charge,  the  education 
of  youth ;  and  his  encouragement  in  that  charge  was  the 
moft  flattering  that  an  lUuminatus  could  wifii  for,  be- 
caufe  he  had  brought  round  him  the  youth  whofe  influ- 
ence i'ri  fotiety  was  the  greateil  and  v,'ho  would  moft  of 


114  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

all  contribute  to  the  diffufing  good  principles,  and  ex- 
citing to  good  condu8;  through  the  whole  (late.  "  I  did 
not,"  fays  he,  "  bring  deifm  into  Bavaria  more  than 
into  Rome.  I  found  it  here,  in  great  vigour,  more 
abounding  than  in  any  of  the  neighbouring  Prot'cftant 
Hates.  I  am  proud  to  be  known  to  the  world  as  the 
founder  of  the  Order  of  lUuminati ;  and  I  repeat  my 
wifh  to  have  for  my  epitaph, 

*'  Hie  Jitus  ejl  Phaethon^  currus  auriga  pater7ii, 
"  Quern  fi  non  tenuity  magnis  tamen  excidit  aitjis." 

The  f^ond  difcovery  of  fecret  correfpondence  at 
SanderfdorJBF,  the  feat  of  Baron  Batz  (Hannibal)  con- 
tains flill  more  interefling  fa6ls. 

Spartacus  to  Cato. 

''  What  {hall  I  do  ?  I  am  deprived  of  all  help.  So- 
crates, who  would  infill  on  being  a  man  of  confequence 
among  us,  and  is  really  a  man  of  talents,  and  of  a  right 
way  of  thinking,  is  eternally  befotted.  Auguftus  is  in 
the  worft  eftimation  imaginable.  Alcibiades  fits  the  day 
long  with  the  vintner's  pretty  v/ife,  and  there  he  fighs 
and  pines.  A  few  days  ago,  at  Corinth,  Tiberius  at- 
tempted to  ravifli  the  wife  of  Democides,  and  her  huf- 
band  came  in  upon  them.  Good  heavens !  what  Areo- 
pagitce  I  have  got.  When  the  worthy  man  Marcus  Au- 
relius  comes  to  Athens  (Munich)  what  will  he  think  ? 
What  a  meeting  with  diflblute  immoral  wretches,  whore- 
mafters,  liars,  bankrupts,  braggarts,  and  vain  fools ! 
When  he  fees  all  this,  what  will  he  think  ?  He  will  be 
afliamed  to  enter  into  an  Aflbciation,"  (obfcrve,  Rea- 
der, that  Spartacus  writes  this  in  Auguft  17 83, in  the  very 
time  that  he  was  trying  to  murder  Cato's  filler)  "  where 


THE  ILLUxMINATI. 


115 


tlie  chiefs  raife  the  higheft  expe6lations,  and  exhibit  fuch 
a  wretched  example  ;  and  all  this  from  felf-will,  from 
fenfuality.  Am  I  not  in  the  right — that  this  man — that 
any  fuch  worthy  man — whofe  name  alone  would  give  us 
the  feleQion  of  all  Germany — will  declare  that  the  whole 
province  of  Grecia  (Bavaria)  innocent  and  guilty,  muft 
be  excluded.  I  tell  you,  w^e  may  ftudy;  and  write, 
and  toil  till  death.  We  may  facrifice  to  the  Order,  our 
health,  our  fortune,  and  our  reputation  (alas  the  lofs!) 
and  thefe  Lords,  following  their  own  pleafures,  will 
Avhore,  cheat,  fteal,  and  drive  on  like  fhamelefs  rafcals ; 
and  yet  muft  be  Areopagitcs,  and  interfere  in  every 
thing.  Indeed,  my  dearelt  friend,  we  have  only  en- 
fiaved  ourfelves." 

In  another  part  of  this  fine  correfpondence,  Diomedes 
iias  had  the  good  fortune  to  intercept  a  Q.  L.  (Quibus 
licet)  in  which  it  is  faid,  and  fupported  by  proofs,  that 
Cato  had  received  250  florins  as  a  bribe  for  his  fentence 
in  his  capacity  as  a  judge  in  a  criminal  court;  (the  end 
had  furely  fanclified  the  means.)  In  another,  a  Miner- 
val  complains  of  his  Mentor  for  having  by  lies  occafion- 
ed  the  difmiffion  of  aphyiician  from  a  family,  by  which 
he  obtained  the  cufiom  of  the  houfe  and  free  accefs, 
"vvhich  favor  he  repaid  by  debauching  the  wife ;  and  he 
prays  to  be  informed  whether  he  may  not  get  another 
Mentor,  faying,  that  ahhough  that  man  had  always 
given  him  the  moft  excellent  inftru^^ions,  and  he  doubt- 
ed not  would  continue  them,  yet  he  felt  a  difguft  at  the 
hypocrify,  which  would  certainly  diminifli  the  impreffion 
of  the  moft  falutary  truths.  (Is  it  not  diftreffing  to 
think,  th-at  this  promifmg  youth  will  by  and  l)y  laugh  at 
his  former  fim.plicity,  and  follow  the  fteps  and  not  the 
ihftru6lions  of  his  phyfician.)  In  another  place,  Spar- 
lacus  writes  to  Marius  (in  confidence)  that  another  Wor- 


ti6  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

thy  Brother,  an  Areopagittz;,.  had.  ftolen  a  gold  and  a  fiK 
ver  watch,  and  a  ring,  from  Brutus  (Savioli)  and  begs. 
Marius,  in  another  letter,  to  try,  while  it  was  yet  pof-. 
fible,  to  get  the  things  reftored,  becaufe  the  culprit  wa,s, 
a  moft  excellent  man  (Vortrejjlich)  and,  of  vaft  ufe  to  the 
Order,  having  the  direction  of  an  eminent  feminary  of 
young  gendemen ;  and  becaufe  Savioli  was  much  in 
good  company,  and  did  not  much  care  for  the  Order, 
except  in  fo  far  as  it  gave  him  an  opportunity  of  know- 
ing and  leading  fome  of  them,  and  of  fleering  his  way 
at  court. 

I  cannot  help  inferting  here,  though  not  the  mofl  pro- 
per place,  a  part  of  a  provincial  report  from  Knigge, 
the  man  of  the  whole  Areopagitce  who  fhows  any  thing 
like  urbanity  or  gentlenefs  of  mind. 

"  Of  my  whole  colony  (Weflphalia)  the  moft  brilli- 
ant is  Claudiopolis  (Neuioied.)  There  they  work,  and, 
direft,  and  do  wonders." 

If  there  ever  was  a  fpot  upon  earth  where  men  may 
be  happy  in  a  ftate  of  cultivated  fociety,  it  was  the, 
little  principahty  of  Neuwied.  I  faw  it  in  1770.  The 
town  was  neat,  and  the  palace  handfome  and  in  good 
tafte ;  all  was  clean.  But  the  country  was  beyond 
conception  delightful  ;  not  a  cottage  that  was  out  of  re- 
pair, not  a  hedge  out  of  order ;  it  had  been  the  hobby 
(pardon  me  the  word)  of  the  Prince,  who  made  it  his 
daily  employment  to  go  through  his  principality  regu- 
larly, and  affift  every  houfeholder,  of  whatever  coi;idi- 
tion,  with  his  advice,  and  with  his  purfe  ;  and,  when  a 
freeholder  could  not  of  himfelf  put  things  into  a  thriving 
condition,  the  Prince  fent  his  workmen  and  did  it  for 
him.     He  endowed  fchools  for  the  common  people,  and 


THE  ILLUMINATT.  117 

two  academies  for- the  gentry  and  the  people  of  bufinefK^ 
He  gave  little  portions  to  the  daughters,  arid  prizes  ta 
th^  well-behaving  fans  of  the  labouring  people.  Hu 
owr^houfehould  was  a  pattern,  of  elegance  and  economy ;. 
his  fons  were  fent  to  Paris  to  learn  elegance,  and  10 
England  to  learn  fcience  and  agriculture.  In  fhort,  the 
whole  was  like  a  romance  (and  was  indeed  romantic.) 
I  heard  it  fpoken  of  with  a  fmile  at  the  table  of  the  Bi~ 
ihop  of  Treves,  at  Ehrenbretllein,  and  was  induced  tO' 
Ice  it  next  day  as  a  curio fity  :  And  yet  even  here,  the 
fanaticifm  of  Kiiigge  would. dillribute  his  poifon,  and 
tell  the  blinded  people,  that  drey  were  in  a.  Hate  of  iiu. 
and  mifery,  that  their  Prince  was  a  defpot,  and  that 
they  would  never  be  happy  till  he  was  made  to  fly,  and. 
till  they  were  all  made  equal. 

They  got  their  wifll  ;  the  fwarm  of  French  locufts 
fat  down  on  Neuwied's  beautiful  fields  in  1793,  and  en- 
trenched themlelves ;  and  in  three  months,  Prince  and 
farmers  houfes,  and  cottages,  and  fchools,  and  acade- 
mies— all  vanifhed;  and  all  the  fubjecls  were  made  equal, 
and  free  (as  they  were  exprefsly  told  by  the  French  Ge- 
neral) to  weep. 

Dlfcite  jujiitiam  moniii,  et  non  temnere  divos  ! 

To  proceed  : 

Spartacits  to  Cato.' 

"  By  this  plan  we  fliall   direft  all    mankind.     In  this 
manner,  and  by  the  hmplefl  means,  we  Ihall   fetallin, 
motion  and  in   flames.     The  occupations  mud  be  fo  al- 
lotted and  contrived,  thatv/iCma)',  in  fecret,  influence 
all  puhtical  tranfatlions."     N.  B,  This  alludes  to  a  part 


n8  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

that  is  withheld  from  the  public,  becaufe  it  contained 
the  allotment  of  the  motl  rebellious  and  profligate  occu- 
pations to  feveral  perfons  whofe  common  names  could 
not  be  traced.  "  I  have  confidered,"  fays  Spartacus, 
*'  every  thing,  and  fo  prepared  it,  that  if  the  Order 
fhould  this  day  go  to  ruin,  I  fhall  in  a  year  re-eftablifli 
it  more  brilliant  than  ever."  Accordingly  it  got  up 
again  in  about  this  fpace  of  time,  under  the  oame  of  the 
German  Union,  appearing  in  the  form  of  Reading 
Societies.  One  of  thefe  was  fet  up  in  Zwack's 
houfe  ;  and  this  raifmg  a  fufpicion,  a  vifitation  was 
made  at  Landfliut,  and  the  firft  fet  of  the  private  papers 
were  found.  The  fcheme  was,  however,  zealoufly  pro- 
fecuted  in  other  parts  of  Germany,  as  we  fliall  fee  by 
and  by.  "  Nor,"  continues  Spartacus,  "  will  it  fignify 
though  all  fhould  be  betrayed  and  printed.  I  am  fo  cer- 
tain of  fuccefs,  in  fpite  of  all  obftacles  (for  the  fprings 
are  in  every  heart)  that  I  am  indifferent,  though  it  fhould 
involve  my  life  and  my  liberty.  What  !  Have  thou- 
fands  thrown  away  their  lives  about  homoios  and  homoi- 
oujio^^  and  fhall  not  this  caufe  warm  even  the  heart  of  a 
coward  ?  But  I  have  the  art  to  draw  advantage  even 
from  misfortune;  and  when  you  would  think  me  funk  to 
the  bottom,  I  lliall  rife  with  new  vigour.  Who  would 
have  thought,  that  a  profefTor  at  Ingolftadt  was  to  be- 
come the  teacher  of  the  profcflbrs  of  Gottingen,  and  of 
the  greateft  men  in  Germany  ? ' 

Spartacus  to  Cato. 

"  Send  me  back  my  degree  of  Illuminatu^  Minor  ; 
it  is  the  wonder  of  all  men  here  (I  may  perhaps  find  time 
to  give  a  tranflation  of  the  difcourfe  of  reception,  which 
contains  all  that  can  be  faid  of  this  Affociation  to  the 
public  ;)  as  alfo  the  two  laft  fheets  of  my  degree,  which- 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  119 

is  in  the  keeping  of  Marius,  and  Celfus,  under  100 
locks  which  contains  my  hiftory  of  the  lives  of  the  Pa- 
triarchs." N.  B.  Nothing  very  particular  has  beendif- 
covered  of  thefe  lives  of  the  Patriarchs.  He  fays,  that 
there  were  above  fixty  fheets  of  it.  To  judge  by  the 
care  taken  of  it,  it  muft  be  a  favorite  work,  very  ha- 
zardous, and  very  catching. 

In  another  letter  to  Cato,  we  have  fome  hints  of  the 
higher  degrees,  and  concerning,  a  peculiar  morality,  and 
a  popular  religion,  which  the  Order  was  one  day  to  give 
the  world.  He  fays,  "  There  muft  (a  la  Jefuite)  not  a 
fingle  purpofe  ever  come  in  fight  that  is  ambiguous,  and 
that  may  betray  our  aims  againft  religion  and  the  ftate^ 
One  muft  fpeak  fometimes  one  way  and  fometimes  ano- 
ther, but  fo  as  never  to  contradict  ourfelves,  and  fo 
that,  with  refpeft  to  our  true  way  of  thinking,  we  may 
be  impenetrable.  When  our  ftrongeft  things  chance  to 
give  oftence,  they  muft  be  explained  as  attempts  to 
draw  anfwers  which  difcover  to  us  the  fentiments  of  the 
perfon  we  converfe  with."  N.  B.  This  did  not  always 
fucceed  with  him. 

Spartacus  fays,  fpeaking  of  the  priefts  degree,  "  One  " 
would  almoft  imagine,  that  this  degree,  as  I  have  ma- 
naged it,  is  genuine  Chriftianity,  and  that  its  end  was  to 
free  the  Jews  from  (lavery.  I  fay,  that  Free  Mafonry 
is  concealed  Chriftianity.  My  explanation  of  the  hiero- 
glyphics, at  leaft,  proceeds  on  this  fuppofition  ;  and  as 
I  explain  things,  no  man  need  be  alhamed  of  being  a 
Chriftian.  Indeed  I  afterwards  throw  away  this  name, 
and  fubftitute  Reafjn.  But  I  aftiire  you  this  is  no  fmall 
affair  ;  a  new  religion,  and  a  new  ftate-government, 
which  fo  happily  explain  one  and  all  of  thefe  fymbols, 
and  combines  them  in  one  degree,     You  may  think  that 


•-120  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

this  is  my  chief  work  ;  but  I  have  three  other  degrees, 
all  different,  i'ov  my  clafs  c^  bigber  iRyfleries,  in  com- 
parifon  with  which  this  is  hut  child's  play  ;  but  ihefe  I 
keep  for  itiyfelf  as  General,  to  be  beftowed  by  me  only 
on  the  Bene^neritijfimi^''  (furely  fiicli  as  Cato,  his  dear- 
eft  friend,  and  the  polTeffor  of  fuch  pretty  fecrets,  as 
abortives,  poifons,  peftilential  vapours,  <&:c.)  "  The 
promoted  may  be  Areopagites  or  not.  Were  you  here 
I  fliould  give  you  this  degree  without  hefitation.  But 
it  is  too  important  to  be  intrufted  to  paper,  or  to  be 
beftowed  otherwife  than  from  my  own  hand.  It  is  the 
key  to  hiftory,  to  religion,  and  to  every  ftate-govern- 
ment  in  the  world."* 

Spartacus  proceeds,  "  There  ftiall  be  but  three  copies 
for  all  Germany.  You  can't  imagine  what  refpeCt  and 
curiofity  my  prieft-degree  has  raifed ;  and,  which  is 
wonderful,  a  famous  Proteftant  divine,  who  is  now  of 
the  Order,  is  perfuaded  that  the  religion  contained  in  it 
is  the  true  fenfe  of  Chriftianity.     Oman,   man!   to 

WHAT     MAY'sT     thou      NOT    BE    PERSUADED.        Who 

would  imagine  that  I  was  to  be  the  founder  of  a  nev 
religion." 

In  this  "fcheme  of  Mafonic  Chriftianity,  Spartacus 
and  Philo  laboured  ferioufly  together.  Spartacus  fent 
him  the  materials,  and  Philo  Worked  them  up.  It  will 
therefore  illuftrate  this  capital  point  of  the  conftitution 
of  the  Order,  if  we  take  Philo's  account  of  it. 

*  I  obferve,  in  other  parts  ef  his  correfpb-ftdehce  ■v^'here  hefpeaks 
of  this,  feveral  lingular  phrafes,  which  are  to  be  found  in  tWo 
books  ;  Ant'iquite  devoilee par  fes  Ufages.,  and  Or'igine  du  Dcfpotifme 
Oriental.  Thefe  contain  indeed  much  of  the  maxims  inculcated  in 
the  reception  difcourfe  of  the  degree  Jllum'tnatus  Minor.  Indeed  I 
have  found,  that  Wei'maupt  is  much  lefs  an  inventor  than  he  is 
generally  thought. 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  *2i 


Philo  to  Cato. 


"  We  muft  confider  the  ruling  propenfities  of  every^ 
age  of  the  world.  At  prefent  the  cheats  and  tricks  of 
the  priefts  have  roufed  all  men  againft  them,  and  againfl: 
Chriftianity.  But,  at  the  fame  time  fuperftition  and  fa- 
naticifm  rule  with  unlimited  dominion,  and  the  under- 
ilanding  of  man  really  feems  to  be  going  backwards. 
Our  tafk,  therefore,  is  doubled.  We  muft  give  fuch 
an  account  of  things,  that  fanatics  fhall  not  be  alarmed, 
and  that  fhall,  notwithftanding,  excite  a  fpirit  of  free  en- 
quiry. We  muft  not  throw  away  the  good  with  the 
bad,  the  child  with  the  dirty  water  ;  but  we  muft  make 
the  fecret  doBrines  of  Chriftianitv  be  received  as  the  fe- 
crets  of  genuine  Free  Mafonry.  But  farther,  we  have  to 
deal  with  the  defpotiftn  of  Princes.  This  increafes  every 
day.  But  then,  the  fpirit  of  freedom  breathes  and  fighs 
in  every  corner  ;  and,  by  the  affiftance  of  hidden  fchools 
ofwifdom,  Liberty  and  Equality,  the  natural  and  im- 
prefcriptible  rights  of  man,  warm  and  glow  in  every 
breaft.  We  muft  therefore  unite  thefe  extremes.  We 
proceed  in  this  manner. 

"  Jefus  Chrift  eftabliflied  no  new  Religion  ;  he 
would  only  fet  Religion  and  Reafon  in  their  ancient 
rights.  For  this  purpofe  he  would  unite  men  in  a  com- 
mon bond.  He  v/ould  fit  them  for  this  by  fpreading  a 
juft  morality,  by  enlightening  the  underftanding,  and  by 
aiTifting  the  mind  to  fhake  off  all  prejudices.  He  would 
teach  all  men,  in  the  firft  place,  to  govern  themfelves. 
Rulers  would  then  be  needlefs,  and  equality  and  liberty 
would  take  place  without  any  devolution,  by  the  natural 
md  gentle  operation  of*  reafon  arid  expediency.     This 

Q 


■fL^%  THE  ILLUrvIINATL 

great  Teacher  allows  himfelf  to  explain  every  part  of 
the  Bible  in  conformity  to  thefe  purpofes  ;  and  he  for- 
bids all  ^\^rangling  among  his  fcholars,  becaufe  every 
man  may  there  hnd  a  reafonable  application  to  his  pe- 
culiar do6lrines.  Let  this  be  true  or  falfe,  it  does  not 
fignify.  This  vv'^as  a  fimple  Religion,  and  it  was  fo  far 
infpired  ;  but  the  minds  of  his  hearers  were  not  fitted 
for  receiving  thefe  doctrines.  I  told  you,  fays  he,  but 
you  could  not  bear  it.  Many  therefore  were  called,  but 
few  were  chofen.  To  thefe  ele6i  were  cntrufted  the  moft 
important  fecrets  ;  and  even  among  them  there  were 
degrees  of  information.  There  was  a  feventy,  and  a 
twelve.  All  this  was  in  the  natural  order  of  things,  and 
according  to  the  habits  of  the  Jews,  and  indeed  of  all 
p.ntiquity.  The  Jewifh  Theofophy  was  a  myftery ; 
like  the  Elcufinian,  or  the  Pythagorean,  unfit  for  the 
vulgar.  And  thus  the  doQrines  of  Chriflianity  were 
committed  to  the  Adepti,  in  a  Difciplina  Arcani. ,  "Sty 
thefe  they  were  maintained,  like  the  Veftal  Fire.  They 
v/ere  kept  up,  only  in  hidden  focieties,  who  handed  them 
down  to  pofterity  ;  and  they  are  pow  pofieffed  by  the 
genuine  Free  Mafons.*" 

N.  B.  This  explains  the  origin  of  many  anonymous 
pamphlets  which  appeared  about  this  time  in  Germany, 
fliowing  that  Free  Mafonry  was  Chriftianity.  They 
have  doubtlefs  been  the  works  of  Spartacus  and  his  par- 
tizans  among  the  Ecleftic  Mafons.  Nicholai,  the  great 
apoftle  of  infidelity,  had  given  very  favorable  reviews  of 
thefe  performances,  an.d  having  always  fliewn  himfelf  an 
advocate  of  fuch  writers  as  depreciated  Chriftianity,  it 
was  natural  for  him  to  take  this  opportunity  of  bringing 
it  ftill  lower  in  the  opinion  of  the  people.  Spartacus 
therefore  conceived  a  high  opinion  of  the  importance 
of  gaining  Nicholai  to  the  Order.     He  had  before  this 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  ir^ 

gained  Leuchtfenring,  a  hot-headed  fanatic,  who  had 
fpied  Jefuits  in  every* corner,  and  fet.Nicholai  on  his 
journey  through  Germany,  to  hunt  them  out.  This 
man  finding  them  equally  hated  by  the  Illuminati,  was 
cafily  gained,  and  was  moft  zealous  in  their  caufe.  He 
engaged  Nicholai,  and  Spartacus  exults  exceedingly  in 
the  acquilition,  faying,  "  that  he  was  an  unwearied 
champion,  et  qicidem  contentijfimus."  Of  this  man  Phi- 
lo  fays,  "  that  he  had  fpread  this  Chriftianity  into  every 
corner  of  Germany.  I  have  put  meaning,"  fays  Philo, 
*'  to  all  thefe  dark  fymbols,  and  have  prepared  both  de- 
grees, introducing  beautiful  ceremonies,  which  I  have 
felefted  from  among  thofe  of  the  ancient  communions, 
combined  with  thofe  of  the  Rofaic  Mafonry  ;  and  now," 
fays  he,  "  it  will  appear  that  zue  are  the  only  true 
Chriftians.  We  fhall  now  be  in  a  condition  to  fay  a 
few  words  to  Priefts  and  Princes.  I  have  fo  contrived 
things,  that  I  would  admit  even  Popes  and  Kings,  after 
the  trials  which  I  have  prefixed  3  and  they  would  be 
olad  to  be  of  the  Order.'" 

o 

But  how  is  all  this  to  be  reconciled  with  the  plan  of 
Illumination,  which  is  to  banifh  Chriftianity  altogether. 
Philo  himfelf  in  many  places  fays,  "  that  it  is  only  a 
cloak,  to  prevent  fqueamifli  people  from  ftarting  back." 
This  is  done  pretty  much  in  the  fame  way  that  was  prac- 
tifed  in  the  French  Mafonry.  In  one  of  their  degrees, 
the  Mafter's  degree  is  made  typical  of  the  death  of  Jefus 
Chrift,  the  preacher  of  Brotherly  love.  But,  in  the  next 
ilep,  the  Chevalier  du  Soleil,  it  is  Reat'on  that  has  been 
dcftroyed  and  entombed,  and  the  Mafter  in  this  degree, 
the  Si'Jjiime  Fhilofopke,  occafions  the  difcovcry  of  the 
place  where  the  body  is  hid;  Reafon  riies  again,  and  fu- 
perftition  and  tyranny  difappear,  and  all  bccoines  clear  ; 
man  becomes  free  and  happy. 

Let  \1j  hear  Spartacus  aq;ain/ 


124  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

Spartacus,  in  another  place. 

''  Wemuft,  ift.  gradually  explain  away  all  our  pre- 
paratory   pious  frauds.      And  when  perfons  of  difcern- 
ment  find  fault,  we  muil  defire  them  to  confider  the  end 
of  all  our  labour.     This  fanftifies  our  means,  which  at 
any  rate   are   harmlefs,  and  have  been   ufeful,  even  in: 
this  cafe,  becaufe  they  procured   us  a  patient  hearing, 
•when  otherwife  men  would  have  turned  away   from  us 
like  petted  children.     This  will  convince  them  of  our 
fentiments  in  all  the   intervening  points ;  and  our  ambi- 
guous expreflions  will  then  be  interpreted  into  aij  endea- 
vour to  draw  anfwers  of  any  kind,  which  may  fliow  us 
the  minds  of  our  pupils.     2d.  We  muft  unfold,  from 
hiftory  and  other  writings,  the  origin  and  fabrication  of 
all   religious  lies  whatever ;  and   then,  ^.  We  give  a 
critical  hi  (lory  of  the  Order.     But  I   cannot  but  laugh, 
when  I  think  of  the  ready  reception  which  all  this  has 
jnet  with  from  the  grave  and  learned  divines  of  Germany 
and  of  England  ;  and  I  wonder  how  their  William  fail- 
ed when  he  attempted  to  ellablifli  a   Deiftical  Woriliip 
in    London   (what  can  this  mean  ?*)  for,  I  am  certain, 
that  it  mufl  have  been  moft  acceptable  to  that  learned 
and  free  people.     But  they  had   not  the  enlightening  of 
our  days."     I  may  here  remark,  that  Weifhaupt  is  pre- 
fuming  too  much   on   the  ignorance  of  his  friend,   for 
there  was  a  great  deal  of  this  enlightening  in  England  at 
the  time  he  fpeaks  of,  and  if  I  am  not   miftakcn,  even 
this  celebrated  Profeifor  of  Irreligion  has  borrowed  moft 
of  his  fcheme  from   this   kingdom.     This   to  be  fure  is 
jiothing  in   our  praife.     But  the    Pamtheisticon  of 
Tolaud   refemhles    WeiOiaupt's    Illumination  in  every 
thing  but  its  rebellion  and  its  villany.     Toland's  Socra- 
tic  Lodge  is  an  elegant  pattern  for   Weiiliaupt,  and  his 

*  It  means  an  attempt  made  by  David  WiUUimfi     [Am  ;  EJ] 


THE  ILLUMINATI,  125 

Triumph  of  Reafon,  his  Philoiophic  Happinefs,  his 
God,  or  Anima  Mi'Jidi,  are  all  To  like  the  harfh  fyfleii^ 
of  SpartacQs,  that  I  am  convinced  that  he  has  copiedi 
them,  ftamping  them  with  the  roiighnefs  of  his  own  char 
ratier.  But  to  go  on  ;  Spartacus  fays  of  the  Engliih  : 
"  Their  poet  Pope  made  his  Eifay  on  Man  a  fyftem  of 
pure  naturalifm,  without  knowing  it,  as  Brother  Chry^ 
fippus  did  with  nny  Prieft's  Degree,  and  was  equally 
aftonilhed  when  this  was  pointed  out  to  him.  Chryfip;- 
pus  is  religious,  but  not  fuperftitious.  Brother  Luciaa 
(Nicholai,  of  whom  I  have  already  faid  fo  much)  fays, 
that  the  grave  ZoUkofer  now  allows  that  it  would  be  ^ 
.very  proper  thing  to  eftablifh  a  Deidical  Worfnip  at 
Berlin.  I  am  not  afraid  but  things  will  go  on  very  well. 
But  Philo,  who  was  entrtiiied  with  iraming  the  Prieft's 
'Degree,  has  deftroyed  it  without  any  neceffity  ;  it 
would,  forfooth,  ftartle  thofe  who  have  a  hankering  for 
Religion.  But  I  always  told  you  that  Philo  is  fanatical 
and  prudifli.  I  gave  him  fine  materials,  and  he  has 
. fluffed  it  full  of  ceremonies  and  child's  play,  and  as  Mi- 
nos fays,  c'eji  jouer  la  religion.  But  all  this  may  be 
correfted  in  the  revifion  by  the  Areopagiia:" 

N.  B.  I  have  already  mentioned  Baron  Knigge*s 
converfion  to  Illuminatifm  by  the  M.  de  Conftanza, 
whofe  name  in  the  Order  was  Diomedes.  Knigge 
(henceforth  Philo)  was,  next  to  Spartacus,  the  moft 
ferviceable  man  in  the  Order,  and  procured  the  greateft 
number  of  mevribers.  It  was  chiefly  by  his  exertions 
among  the  Mafons  in  the  Protetlant  countries,  that  the 
Edetlic  Syjlnn  was  introduced,  and  afterwards  brought 
under  the  dlrettion  of  the  liluminaii. .  This  conquefl 
was  owing  entirely  to  his  very  extenfive  connetlions 
among  the  Mafons.  He  travelled  like  a  philofopher 
from   city   to   cityj  from  Lodge  to    Lodge,  and  even 


126  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

fiom  houfe  to  houfe,  before  his  Illumination,  trying  to 
unite  the  Mafons,  and  he  now  went  over  the  fame  ground 
to  extend  the  EcleBic  Syjlem^  and  to  get  the  Lodges  put 
under  the  direction  of  the  Illuminati,  by  their  choice  of 
the  Mafter  and  Wardens.  By  this  the  Order  had  an  op- 
portunity of  noticing  the  conduft  of  individuals  ;  and 
■when  they  had  found  out  their  manner  of  thinking,  and 
that  they  were  fit  for  their  purpofe,  they  never  quitted 
them  till  they  had  gained  them  over  to  their  party.  We 
have  feen,  that  he  was  by  no  means  void  of  religious 
impreffions,  and  we  often  find  him  offended  with  the 
atheifm  of  Spartacus.  Knigge  wa^.  at  the  fame  time  a 
man  of  the  world,  and  had  kept  good  company.  Vv^'eif- 
haupt  had  pafled  his  life  in  the  habits  of  a  college. 
Therefore  he  knew  Knigge's  value,  and  communicated 
to  him  all  his  projefts,  to  be  dreffed  up  by  him  for  the" 
tafte  of  fociety.  Philo  was  of  a  much  more  affedionate 
difpofition,  with  fomething  of  a  devotional  turn,  and 
was  fhocked  at  the  hard  indifference  of  Spartacus.  Af- 
ter labouring  four  years  with  great  zeal,  he  was  provoJc- 
ed  with  the  difingenuous  tricks  of  Spartacus,  and  he 
broke  off  all  conneftion  with  the  Society  in  1784,  and 
fomc  time  after  publifhed  a  declaration  of  all  that  he 
had  done  in  it.  This  is  a  moft  excellent  account  of  the 
plan  and  principles  of  the  Order  (at  leaft  as  he  conceiv- 
ed it,  for  Spartacus  had  much  deeper  views)  and  fhows 
that  the  aim  of  it  was  to  abolifli  Chriftianity,  and  all  the 
Itate-governments  in  Europe,  and  to  eftablifh  a  great  re  - 
public.  But  it  is  full  of  romantic  notions  and  cnthufi- 
aflic  declamation,  on  the  hackneyed  topics  of  univerfal 
citizenfhip,  and  liberty  and  equality.  Spartacus  gave 
him  line,  and  allowed  him  to  work  on,  knowing  that 
he  could  difcard  him  when  he  chofe.  I  fliall  after  this 
give  fome  extrafts  from  Fhilo's  letters,  from  which  the 
reader  will  fee  the  vile  behaviour  of  Spartacus j  and  the 


THE  ILLUMINATL  127 

nature  of  his  ultimate  views.     In  the  mean  time  we  may 
proceed  with  the  account  of  the  principles  of  the  fyftem. 

Spariacus  to  Catt), 

"  Nothing  would  be  more  profitable  to  us  than  a 
right  hiftory  of  mankind.  DefpotiFm  has  robbed  thera 
of  their  liberty.  How  can  the  weak  obtain  prote8:ion? 
Only  by  union  ;  but  this  is  rare.  Nothing  can  bring 
this  about  but  hidden  focieties.  Hidden  fchools  of  wif- 
dom  are  the  means  which  will  one  day  free  men  from 
their  bonds.  Thefe  have  in  all  ages  been  the  archive^i 
of  nature,  and  of  the  rights  of  men  ;  and  by  them  lliaii 
human  nature  be  raifcd  from  her  fallen  ftate.  Princes 
and  nations  (hall  vanilli  from  the  earth.  The  human 
race  will  then  become  one  family,  and  the  world  will  be 
the  dwelling  of  rational  men. 

"  Morality  alone  can  do  this.  The  head  of  every 
family  will  be  what  Abraham  was,  the  patriarch,  the 
prieft,  and  the  unlettered  lord  of  his  family,  and  Reafon 
will  be  the  code  of  laws  to  all  mankind.  This,"  fays 
Spartacus,  "  is  our  great  secret.  True,  there  may 
be  fome  difturbance  ;  but  by  and  by  the  unequal  wil! 
become  equal  ;  and  after  the  ftorm  all  will  be  calm. 
Can  the  unhappy  confequences  remain  when  the  grounds 
of  did'cnfion  are  removed  ?  Roufe  yourfelves  therefore, 
O  men  !  afifert  your  rights  ;  and  then  will  Reafon  rule 
with  unperceived  fway  ;  and  all  shall   be  happy.* 

'*  Happy  France  !  Cradle  of  illumination,  where  die  morning 
of  Reafon  has  dawned,  difpelling  the  clouds  of  Monarchy  and 
Ghriftianity,  where  the  babe  has  fucked  the  blood  of  the  unenlight- 
ened, and  Murder  !  Fire  !  Help  !  has  been  the  lullaby  to  fmg  it 
to  fleep. 


128  THE   ILLUMINATK  ^ 

"  Morality  will  perrorm  all  this ;  and  morality  is  ihd 
fruit  of  Illumination;  duties  and  rights  are  reciprocaL 
Where  Ociavias  has  no  right,  Cato  o;ves  him  no  duty. 
Illumination  Ihews  us  our  ridits,  and  Morality  follows; 
that  Morality  which  teaches  us  to  be  of  age^  to  he  out  of 
'U)ardenjlii.p,  to  be  full  groxon^  and  to  walk  without  the 
leading-firings  of  pricjls  and  princes. 

"  Jcfas  of  Nazareth,  the  Grand  Matter  of  our  Or- 
der, appeared  at  a  tiroe  when  the  world  was  in  the  utmoft 
diforder,  and  among  a  people  who  for  ages  had  groaned 
under  the  yoke  of  bondage.  He  taught  them  the  lef- 
fons  of  reafon.  To  be  more  efFeBivej  he  took  in  the  aid 
of  Religion — of  opinions  which  were  current — and,  in 
a  ver.y  clever  manner^  he  combined  his  fecret  do8rines 
with  the  popular  religion,  and  widi  the  cuftoms  which 
lay  to  iris  hand.  In  thefe  he  wrapped  up  his  le(ibns-»- 
h^  taught  by  parables.  Never  did  any  prophet  lead  men 
ib'^.ahly  and  fo  fecurely  along  the  road  of  liberty.  lie 
lonccaled  the  precious  meaning  and  confequences  of  his 
yorcirines  ;  but  fully  difclofed  them  to  a  chofen  few. 
He  fpcaks  of  a  kingdom  of  the  uprioht  and  faithful  :  his 
Father's  kingdom,  whofe  children  we  alfo  are.  Let  us 
only  tjike  Liberty  and  Equality  as  the  great  aim  of  his 
doclrines,  and  Morality  as  the  way  to  attain  it,  and  eve- 
ry thing  in  the  New  Teftaraent  will  be  comprehenfible ;, 
end  jefus  will  appear  as  the  Redeemer  of  flaves.  Man 
is  fallen  from  the  condition  of  Liberty  and  Equality, 
the  STATE  OF  PURE  NATURE.  He  is  uudcr  fubordi- 
nation  and  civil  bondage,  arifmg  from  the  vices  of  man. 
This  is  the  pall,  and  original  sin.  The  k  i  n  g - 
POM  OF  G^ACE  is  that  reftoration  which  may  be  brought 
about  by  Illumination  and  ajuft  Morality.  This  is  the 
NEW  BIRTH.  When  man  lives  under  government, Jje 
is  fallen,  his   worth   is  sone,"  and  his  nature  tarniflicd. 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  529 

By  fubduing  our  paflions,  or  limiting  their  cravings,  we 
may  recover  a  great  deal  of  our  original  worth,  and  live 
in  a  ftate  of  grace.  This  is  the  redemption  of  men — this 
is  accompiiflied  by  Morality  -,  and  when  this  is  fpread 
over  the  world,  we  have  the  kingdom  of  the  just. 

"  But  alas  !  the  tafli  of  felf-formation  was  too  hard 
Cor  the  fubjefts  of  the  Roman  empire,  corrupted  by 
every  fpecies  of  profligacy.  A  chofen  few  received 
the  doctrines  in  fecret,  and  they  have  been  handed  down 
to  us  (but  frequently  almoft  buried  under  rubbifh  of 
man's  invention)  by  the  Free  Mafons.  Thefe  three 
conditions  of  human  fociety  areexprelTed  by  the  rough, 
the  fpiit  and  the  poliflied  Hone.  The  rough  ftone,  and 
the  one  that  is  fplit,  exprefs  our  condition  under  ci- 
vil government ;  rough  by  every  fretting  inequality  of 
condition  ;  and  fplit,  fmce  we  are  no  longer  one  family; 
and  are  farther  divided  by  differences  of  government, 
rank,  property,- and  religion  ;  but  when  reunited  in  one 
family,  we  are  reprefented  by  the  poliflied  ftone.  G.  is 
Grace  ;  the  Flaming  Star  is  the  Torch  of  Reafon. 
Thofe  who  poffefs  this  knowledge  are  indeed  Illumi- 
N  ATI.  Hiram  is  our  fiQitious  Grand  Mafter,  flain  for 
the  REDEMPTION  OF  SLAVES  ;  tlic  Niuc  Maftcrs  are 
the  Founders  of  the  Order.  Free  Mafonry  is  a  Royal 
Art,  inafmuch  as  it  teaches  us  to  walk  without  trammels, 
and  to  govern  ourfelves." 

Reader,  are  you  not  curious  to  learn  fomething  of  this 
all-powerful  morality,  fo  operative  on  the  heart  of  the 
truly  illuminated — of  this  difciplina  arcani,  entufted  on- 
ly to  the  chofen  few,  and  handed  down  to  ProfelTor 
Weifhaupt,  to  Spartacus,  and  his  affociates,  who  havr 
cleared  it  of  the  rubbifh  heaped  on  it  by  the  dim-lighted 

R 


,*30  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

Mafons,  and  now  beaming  in  its  native  luure  on  the 
■minds  of  the  Arecpagitis  ?  The  teachers  of  ordinary 
Chriftianity  have  been  labouring  for  almoft  2000  years, 
vith  the  New  Teftament  in  their  hands  ;  many  of  them 
.with  great  addrefs,  and  many,  1  believe,  with  honeft 
zeal.  But  alas  !  they  cannot  produce  fuch  wonderful 
and  certain  effefts  (for  obferve,  that  Weifhaupt  repeat- 
edly allures  us  that  his  means  are  certain)  probably  for 
Vv'ant  of  this  difciplina  arcarJ,  of  whofe  efficacy  fo  much 
is  faid.  Moft  fortunately,  Spartacus  has  given  us  a 
brilliant  fpecimen  of  the  ethics  which  illuminated  him- 
fclf  on  a  trying  occafion,  where  an  ordinary  Chriflian 
W'ould  have  been  much  perplexed,  or  would  have  taken 
a  road  v^'idely  different  from  that  of  this  illuiirious  apof- 
de  of  light.  And  feeing  that  feveral  of  the  Areopcgitx 
co-operated  in  the  tranfaftion,  and  that  it  was  carefully 
concealed  from  the  profane  and  dim-fighted  world,  we 
can  have  no  doubt  but  that  it  was  condu6led  accordincr 

o 

to  the  difciplina  arcani  of  Illumination.     1  fliall  give  it 
in  his  own  words . 

Spirtacus  to  Mariu^^  September  ij^!^' 

"  I  am  now  in  the  moft  embarrafTing  fituation ;  it 
robs  me  of  all  reft,  and  makes  me  unfit  for  every  thing. 
I  am  in  danger  of  lofmg  at  once  my  honor  and  my  repu- 
tation, by  which  I  have  long  had  fuch  influence.  What 
think  you — my  fifter-in-law  is  with  child.  I  have  fent 
her  to  Euriphon,  and  am  endeavouring  to  procure  a 
marriage-licence  from  Rome.  How  much  depends  011 
this  uncertainty — and  there  is  not  a  moment  to  lofe. 
Should  I  fail,  what  is  to  be  done  ?  What  a  return  do  I 
make  by  this  to  a  perfon  to  whom  I  am  fo  much  oblig- 
ed !  (we  fhall  fee^the  probable  meaning  of  this  exclaraa- 
lion  by  and  by.)     W^e  have  tried  every  method  in  our 


THE  ILLUMINATr.  i^-t: 

power  to  dcflroy  the  child  ;  arid  I  hope  (lie  is  determined 
on  cverv  thin^r — even  d — .  (Can  this  mean  death  ?) 
But  alas!  Euriphon  is,  I  fear,  too  timid  (alas!  poor 
woman,  thou  art  now  under  the  difciplina  arcani)  and  I- 
fee  no  other  expedient.  Could  I  be  but  afTured  of  the 
iilence  of  Cclfas  (a.  phyfician  at  Ino;old(ladt)  he  can  re- 
lieve me,  and  he  prowoijed  me  as  much  three  years  ago. 
Do  fpeak  to  him.,  if  you  think  he  v;ill  be  (launch.  I 
would  not  let  Cato  (his  deareft  friend,  and  his  chief  or 
only  confidant  in  the  fcheme  of  IHumination)  know  it 
yet,  becaufe  the  affair  in  other  reipefts  requires  his 
Vv'hole  friendfhip.  (Cato  had  all  the  pretty  receipts.) 
Could  you  but  help  me  out  of  this  diftrefs,  you  would 
give  me  life,  honor,  and  peace,  and  Jlrength  to  work- 
again  in  the  great  caufe.  If  you  cannot,  be  afllircd  I 
will  venture  on  the  mofl  defperaie  ftroke  (poor  fifter  !) 
for  it  is  fixed. — I  will  not  lofe  my  honor.  I  cannot 
conceive  what  devil  has  made  me  to  go  aftray — vie  who 
hdvs  always  been  Jo  careful  onfuch  occajions..  As  yet  all 
is  quiet,  and  none  know  of  it  but  you  and  Euriphon. 
Were  it  but  time  to  undertake  any  thing — but  alas  !  \t 
is  the  fourth  month.  Thefe  damned  priefts  too — for  the 
adion  is  fo  criminally  accounted  by  them,  and  fcanda- 
iifes  the  blood.  This  makes  the  utmoil  efforts  and  the 
moil  dcfperate  meafures  abfolutely  neceilary.'' 

It  will  throw  fome  light  on  this  tranfatlion  if  v/e  read 
a  letter  from  Spartacus  to  Cato  about  this  time. 

"  One  thiniT  more,  my  deared  friend—- Would  it  bs- 
a'^reeable  to  you  to  have  me  for  a  brother-in-law.  If 
this  fhould  be  agreeable,  and  if  it  can  be  brou:;ht  about 
widiout  prejudice  to  my  honor,  as  I  hope  it  may,  I 
am  not  without  hopes  that  the  connection  may  take 
place.      But  in  the  mean  time  keep  it  a  fecret,  and  only 


:,32  THE  ILLUMINATL 

give  me  permifiion  to  enter  into  correfpondence  on  thc^ 
fubjeO;  with  the  good  lady,  to  whom  I  beg  you  will  of- 
fer my  refpe6lful  compliments,  and  I  will  explain  ray- 
felf  more  fully  to  you  by  word  of  mouth,  and  tell  you 
my  whole  fituation.  But  I  repeat  it — the  thing  mull  be- 
gone about  with  addrefs  and  caution.  I  would  not  for 
all  the  world  deceive  a  perfon  who  certainly  has  not  de- 
fer ved  fo  of  me." 

What  interpretation  can  be  put  on  this  ?  Cato  feems 
to  be  brother  to  the  poor  woman — he  was   unwittingly 
to  furniih  the  drugs,  and  he  was  to  be  dealt  with  about 
confenting  to  a  marriage,  which  could  not  be  altogether 
agreeable  to  him,  fince  it  required  a  dilpenfation,  (he 
being  already  the  iifter-in-law  of  Weifliaupt,  either  the 
fifter  of  his    former  wife,  or  the  widow  of  a  deceafed 
brother.     Or  perhaps  Spartacus  really  wiflics  to  marry 
Cato's  fifter,  a  different  perfon  from  the  poor  woman 
in  the  ftraw  ;  and  he  conceals  this  adventure  from  his 
trufty  friend  Cato,  till  he  fees  what  becomes  of  it.     The 
child  may  perhaps  be  got  rid  of,  and  then  Spartacus  is  a 
free  man.     There  is  a  letter  to  Cato,  thanking  him  for 
his  friendfhip  in  the  affair  of  the  child^ — but  it  gives  n6 
light.     I  meet  with  another  account,  that  the   fifter  of 
Zwack  threw  herfelf  from  the  top  of  a  tower,  and  beat 
out  her  brains.     But   it  is  not  faid  that  it  was  an  only 
iifter  ;  if  it  was,  the  probability  is,  that  Spartacus  had 
paid  his  addreifcs  to   her,  and   fucceeded,  and  that  the 
fubfequent  affair  of  his  marriage  with  his  fifter-in-law  or 
fomething  woiic,  broke  her  heart.     This  feeras  the  befl 
account  of  the  matter.     For  Hertel  (Marius)  writes  t^ 
Zwack  in  November  1782  :  "Spartacus  is  this   day 
gone  home,  but  has  left  his  fifter-in-law  pregnant  behind, 
(this  is   from  BalTus   HofT.)     About  the  new   year  he 
hopes  to  be  made  merry  by  a  — — ,  v;ho  will  be  before 


THE  ILLUMrNATI.  ig^ 

aU  kings  and  princes — ^a  young  Spartaciis.     Tlie  Pope 
alio  will  refpeti  liim,  and  legitimate  him  before  the  time." 

Now,  vulgar  Chriftian,  compare  this  with  the  former 
declaration  of  Weilliaupt,  in  page  112,  where  he  appeals 
to  the  tenor  of  his-  former  life,  which  had  been  fo  feverc- 
iy  fcrutinifed,  without  diiaaimlhing  his  high  reputation 
and  great  influence,  and  hir,  ignorance  and  abhorrence 
of  all  thofe  things  found  'm  Cato's  repoiit(M-ies.  You  fee 
this  was  a  fufprife-H-he  had  formerly  pro-ceeded  cauti- 
dufly.— He  is  the  befl  man,"  fays  Spartacus,  ^'  who  beO, 
conceals  his  faults." — -He  was  difappointed  by  Celfus, 
who  had  prom.ijed  him  his  ajjifiance  on  fiuh  occajiom 
three  years  ago,  during  which  time  he  had  been  bufy  in 
"  forming  himfelf."  How  far  he  has  advanced,  ths 
reader  may  judge. 

One  is  curious  to  know  what  became  of  the  poor  wo- 
jjian  :  file  was  afterwards  taken  to  the  houfe  of  Baron 
Baff'us ;  but  here  the  foolilfi  woman,  for  want  of  that 
courage  which  Illumination,  and  the  bright  profpeft  of 
eternal  lleep  fhould  have  produced,  took  fright  at  the 
■difciplina  arcani,-  left  the  houfe,  and  in  the  hidden  fo- 
■ciety  of  a  midwife  and  nurfe  brought  forth  a  young 
Spartacus,  who  now  lives  to  thank  his  father  for  his  en- 
deavours to  murder  him.  A  "  d'mned priejl^"  the  good 
Bifliop  of  Freyfingen,  knowing  the  cogent  reafons,  pro- 
cured the  difpenfation,  and  Spartacus  was  obliged,  like 
another  dim-fighted  mortal,  to  marry  her.  The  fcar,- 
dal  was  hufhed,  and  would  not  have  been  diicovcred 
had  it  not  been  for  thefe  private  writings. 

But  Spartacus  fays  (page  118)  "  that  when  yoa  think 

him  funk  to  the  bottom,  he  will  fpring  up  with  double 

■vigour."    In  a  fubfcf^uem  work  called  Short  Amendment 


134  THE  ILLUxMINATL 

cj  my  Plan^  he  fays,  "  If  men  were  not  habituated  icr 
wicked  manners,  his  letters  would  be  their  own  juftifi- 
cation."  He  does  not  fay  that  he  is  without  fault ;  "  but 
thev  are  faults  of  the  underftanding — not  of  the  heart. 
He  had,  firft  of  all,  to  forrahimfelf ;  and  this  is  a  work 
of  time."  In  the  affair  of  his  fifter-in-law  he  admits  the 
fa8;s,  and  the  attempts  to  deftroy  the  child  ;  "  but  this 
is  far  from  proving  any  depravity  of  heart.  In  his  con- 
dition, his  honor  at  flake,  whatelfe  was  left  him  to  do  ? 
His  greatefl  enemies,  the  Jefuits,  have  taught  that  in 
fuch  a  cafe  it  is  lawful  to  make  away  with  the  child," 
and  he  quotes  authorities  from  their  books.  "In  the 
introductory  faul.t  he  has  the  example  of  the  beft  of 
men.  The  fecond  was  its  natural  confequence,  it  was 
altogether  involuntary,  and,  in  the  eye  of  aphilofophi- 
cal  judge  (I  prefume  of  the  Gallic  School)  who  does 
not  fquare  himfelf  by  the  harih  letters  of  a  biood-thirjiy 
lawgiver,,  he  has  but  a  very  trifling  account  to  fettle. 
He  had  become  a  public  teacher,  and  was  greatly  fol- 
lowed ;  this  example  might  have  ruined  many  young  men. 
The  eyes  of  the  Order  alfo  were  fixed  on  him.  The 
edifice  refled  on  his  credit ;  had  he  fallen,  he  could  no 
longer  have  been  in  a  condition  to  treat  the  ^natters  oj vir- 
tue Jo  as  to  make  a  lajlmg  imprejfion.  It  was  chiefly  his 
anxiety  to  fupport  the  credit  of  the  Order  which  deter- 
mined him  to  take  thi«  ftep.  It  makes  for  him,  but  by 
no  means  againji  him  ;  and  the  perfons  who  are  moft  in 
fault  are  the  flavifli  inquiiitors,  who  have  publiflied  the 
iranfaclion,  in  order  to  make  his  character  more  remark- 
able, and  to  hurt  the  Order  through  his  perfon  ;  and 
they  have  not  fcrupled,  for  this  hellifti  purpofe,  to  flir 
up  a  child  againil  its  father  !   !   !" 

I  make  no  refletlions  on  this  very   remarkable,    and 
highly  ufeful  fiery,  but  contejit  myfelf  with  faying,  that 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  135 

tl^sj unification  by  Weilhaupt  (which  I  have  been  care- 
ful to  give  in  his  own  words)  is  the  greateft  inftance  of 
elFrontery  and  infuh  on  the  fentiments  of  mankind  that 
I  have  ever  met  with.  We  are  all  fuppofed  as  com- 
pletely corrupted  as  if  we  had  lived  under  the  full  blaze 
of  Illumination. 

In  other  places  of  this  curious  correfpondence  we 
learn  that  Minos,  and  others  of  the  Areopagitce,  M-antcd 
to  introduce  Atheifm  at  once,  and  not  go  hedging  in  the 
manner  they  did;  affirming  it  was  eafier  to  {how  at  once 
that  Atheifm  was  friendly  to  fociety,  than  to  explain  all 
their  Mafonic  Chriftianity,  which  they  were  afterwards 
to  fhow  to  be  a  bundle  of  lies.  Indeed  this  purpofe,  of 
not  only  abolifliing  Chriftianity,  but  all  pofitive  religion 
whatever,  was  Weifliaupt's  favorite  fcheme  from  the  be- 
ginning. Before  he  canvaffed  for  his  Order,  in  1774, 
he  publiflied  a  fiditious  antivque,  which  he  called  Sidonii 
ApoUtnans  Fragmenta^  to  prepare  (as  be  exprefsly  fayvS 
in  another  place)  mens  minds  for  the  doctrines  of  Rea- 
fon,  which  contains  all  the  deteftable  doctrines  of  Robi- 
net's  Syjleme  de  la  Nature.  The  publication  of  the  fe- 
cond  part  was  Itopped.  Weifhaupt  fays,  in  his  Apo- 
logy FOR  THE  Illumin  ATI,  that  before  1780  he  had 
•retraced  his  opinions  about  Materialifm,  and  about  the 
inexpediency  of  Princes.  But  this  is  falfe  :  Philo  fays 
•exprefsly,  that  every  thing  remained  on  its  original  foot- 
ing in  the  whole  praQice  and  dogmas  of  the  Order  when 
he  quitted  it  in  July  1784.  All  this  was  concealed,  and 
even  the  abominable  Malbnry,  in  the  account  of  the  Or- 
der which  Weilhaupt  publilhed  at  Regenfburg  ;  and  it 
required  the  conftant  efforts  of  Philo  to  prevent  bars  or 
flat  Atheifm  from  being  uniformly  taught  in  their  de- 
grees. He  had  told  the  council  that  Zeno  would  not 
be  under  a  roof  with  a  man  who  denj'ed  the  immortalitv 


,^6  THE  ILLUMiNATI. 

©f  tl:;?  foul.  He  complains  of  Minoji's  cramming  irreli- 
cioa  apwiTi  tneir  throats  jn  every  meeting,  and  iays,  that 
he  frighten<jd  many  from  entering  the  Order.  "  Truth," 
fays  Fhilo,  "  is  a  clever,  by t  a  modeft  girl,  who  muft  be 
led  by  th^  .hand  like  a  gentle^^oman,  but  not  kicked 
about  like  a  whore."  Spartacus  complains  much  of  the 
fqeamiflmefs  of  Philo  ;  yet  Philo  is  not  a  great  deal  be^ 
hind  him  in  irreligion.  V/hen  defcribing  to  Cato  the 
Chriftianity  of  the  Prieft-degree,  as  be  had  manufaftur- 
ed  it,  he  lays,  "  It  is  all  one  whether  it  be  true  or  falfc, 
we  muft  have  it,  that  we  may  tickle  thofe  who  have  a  . 
hankering  for  religion."  All  the  odds  feems  to  be,  that 
he  was  of  a  gentler  difpofition,  and  had  more  deference 
even  for  the  abfurd  prejudices  of  others.  In  one  of 
his  angry  letters  to  Cato  he  fays  ;  "  The  vanity  and  felf 
conceit  of  Spartacus  would  have  got  the  better  of  all 
prudence,  had  I  not  checked  him,  and  prevailed  on  the 
Areopagitcc  but  to  defer  the  developement  of  the  bold 
principles  till  we  had  firmly  fecured  the  man.  I  even 
widied  to  entice  the  candidate  the  more  by  giving  him 
back  all  his  former  bonds  of  fecrecy,  and  leaving  him  at 
liberty  to  w'alk  out  without  fear  ;  and  I  am  certain  that 
they  were,  by  this  time,  fo  engaged  that  we  fhould  not 
have  loft  one  man.  But  Spartacus  had  compofed  an 
exhibition  of  his  laft  principles,  far  a  difcourfe  of  recep- 
tion, in  which  he  painted  his  three  favorite  myfterious 
xlegrees,  which  were  to  be  conferred  by  him  alone,  in  co- 
lours which  had  fafcinated  his  ow^n  fancy.  But  they 
were  the  colours  of  hell,  and  v;ould  have  feared  the  moft 
intrepid ;  and  becaufe  I  reprefented  the  danger  of  this, 
and  by  force  obtained  the  omiffion  of  this  piflure,  h.e 
became  my  implacable  enemy.  I  abhor  treachery  and 
.profligacy,  and  leave  him  to  blew  himfelf  and  his  Order 
in  the  air." 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  137 

Accordingly  this  happened.  It  was  this  which  terri* 
fied  one  of  the  four  profeflbrs,  and  made  him  impart 
his  doubts  to  tlie  reft.  Yet  Spartacus  feems  to  have  pro- 
lited  by  the  apprehenfions  of  Philo  ;  for  in  the  laft  re-» 
ception,  he,  fof  the  firft  time,  exacts  a  bond  from  the 
intrant,  engaging  himfelf  for  ever  to  the  Order,  and 
fwearing  that  he  will  never  draw  back.  Thus  admit- 
ted, hS  becomes  a  fure  card.  The  courfe  of  his  life  is 
in  the  hands  of  the  Order,  and  his  thoughts  on  a  thou- 
fand  dangerous  points;  his  reports  concerning  his  neigh- 
bours and  friends  ;  in  fhort,  his  honor  and  his  neckj 
The  Deift,  thus  led  on,  has  not  far  to  go  before  he  be- 
comes a  Naturalift  or  Atheift ;  and  then  the  eternal 
fleep  of  death  crowns  all  his  humble  hopes. 

Before  giving  an  account  of  the  higher  degrees,  I 
{hall  juft  extra6l  from  one  letter  more  on  a  fmgular 
fubje^t. 

Minos  to  Sebajlian,  1782. 

"  The  propofal  of  Hercules  to  eftablifli  a  Minerval 
fchool  for  girls  is  excellent, .  but  requires  much  circum- 
fpefl-ion.  Philo  and  I  have  long  convcrfed  on  this  fub- 
jeQ:.  ,  We  cannot  improve  the  world  without  improv- 
ing women,  who  have  fuch  a  mighty  influence  on  the 
men.  But  how  fhall  we  get  hold  of  them  ?  How  will 
their  relations,  particularly  their  mothers,  immerfed  in 
prejudices,  confent  that  others  (hall  influence  their  edu- 
cation ?  We  muft  begin  with  grown  girls.  Hercules 
propofes  the  wife  of  Ptolemy  Magus.  I  have  no  ob- 
jeftion  ;  and  I  have  four  ftep-daughters,  .fine  girls.  The 
oldeft  in  particular  is  excellent.  She  is  twenty-fourj 
has  read  much,  is  above  all  prejudices,  and  in  religion 

S 


5^8  THE  ILLUMirtATI. 

fhe  thinks  as  I  do.  They  have  much  acquaintance 
araong  t\it  young  ladies  their  relations  (N.  B.  we  don't 
know  the  rank  of  Minos,  but  as  he  does  not  ufe  the 
word  Damen,  but  Fr.auenzimmer^  it  is  probable  that  it 
is  not  high.)  It  may  immediately  be  a  very  pretty  So- 
ciety, under  the  management  of  Ptolerny's  wife,  but  re- 
ally under  his  management.  You  muft  contrive  pretty 
d^rees,  and  drefTes,  and  ornaments,  and  elegant  and 
decent  rituals.  No  man  muft  be  admitted.  This  will 
make  them  become  more  keen,  and  they  will  go  much 
farther  than  if  we  were  prefent,  or  than  if  they  thought 
that  we  knew  of  their  proceedings.  Leave  them  to  the 
fcope  of  their  own  fancies,  and  they  will  foon  invent 
xnyfteries  which  will  put  us  to  the  blulh,  and  create  an 
enthufiafm  which  we  can  never  equal.  They  will  be 
our  great  apoftles.  Reflect  on  the  refpe£l,  nay  the  awe 
and  terror  infpired  by  the  female  myftics  of  antiquity. 
(Think  of  the  Danaids — think  of  the  Theban  Bacchantes.) 
Ptolemy's  wife  muft  direB  them,  and  fne  will  be  in- 
ftrufted  by  Ptolemy,  and  my  ftep-daughters  will  confult 
with  me.  We  muft  always  be  at  hand  to  prevent  the  in- 
trodudion  of  any  improper  queftion.  We  muft  pre- 
pare themes  for  their  difcuflion — thus  we  ftiall  confefs 
them,  and  infpire  them  with  our  fentiments.  No  man 
.however  muft  come  near  them.  This  will  fire  their 
roving  fancies,  and  w^emay  expeft  rare  myfteries.  But 
I  am  doubtful  whether  this  AfFociation  will  be  durable. 
Women  are  fickle  and  impatient.  Nothing  will  pleafe 
them  but  hurrying  from  degree  to  degree,  through  a 
heap  of  infignificant  ceremonies,  which  will  foon  lofe 
their  novelty  and  influence.  To  reft  ferioufly  in  one 
rank,  and  to  be  ftill  and  filent  when  they  have  found  out 
that  the  whole  is  a  cheat  (hear  the  words  of  an  experi- 
enced Mafon)  is  a  talk  of  which  they  are  incapable. 
They  have  not  our  motives  to  perfevere  for  years,   al- 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  ft§^ 

towing  themfelves  to  be  led  about,  and  even  then  to  hold 
their  tongues  when  they  find  that  they  have  been  deceiv- 
<ed.  Nay  there  is  a  rifk  that  they  may  take  it  into  their 
heads  to  give  things  an  oppofite  turn,  and  then,  by  vo- 
luptuous allurcraents,  heightened  by  afiPe6led  modefty 
and  decency,  M'hich  give  them  an  irrefiftiblc  empire 
over  the  bed  men,  they  may  turn  our  Order  upiide 
down,  and  in  their  turn  will  lead  the  new  one." 

Such  is  the  information  which  may  be  got  from  the 
private  correfporidence.  It  is  needlefs  to  make  more 
extra6ls  of  every  kind  of  vice  and  trick.  I  have  taken 
fuch  as  fhow  a  little  of  the  plan  of  the  Order,  as  far  as 
the  degree  of  lUuminatus  Minor,  and  the  vile  purpofes 
which  are  concealed  under  all  their  fpecious  declamation. 
A  very  minute  account  is  given  of  the  plan,  the  ritual, 
ceremonies,  &:c.  and  even  the  inftru8;ions  and  difcourfesj 
in  a  book  called  the  Aihte  Iliuminat,  publilhed  at  Edejjd 
(Frankfurt)  in  1787.  Philo  fays,  "  that  this  is  quite 
accurate,  but  that  he  does  not  know  the  author."  I  pro- 
ceed to  give  an  account  of  their  higher  degrees,  as  they 
are  to  be  feen  in  the  book  called  Neicefie  Arbeitung  des 
Spartacus  und  Philo,  And  the  authenticity  of  the  ac- 
counts is  attefted  by  Grollman,  a  private  gentleman^^of 
independent  fortune,  who  read  them,  figned  and  fealed 
by  Spartacus  and  the  Areopagita;. 

The  feries  of  ranks  and  progrefs  of  the  pupil  werear« 
ranged  as  follows : 

(-  -----  Preparation, 

-  -     -     -     -     -  Novice, 

-  -     -     -     -     -  Mmerval, 

-  -     -     -     -     -  Illumin,  Minor*. 


.^4^'  THE  ILLUMINATL 


rSym-      f 
I  bolic      < 

iONRY,  -^  [^ 


-  -     -     Apprentice, 

-  -     -     Fellow  Craftt 
Masonry,-^                 (^     _     _     .     .     Mafter, 

Scotch    J  f««™- «";■<"■.   Scotch  Novice, 

\  Ilium, dtrigens,  bcotch  Knight, 


Leffer,         i  Prefbyter,  Prieft, 
'  1^  Frince,  Regent, 

J  Magi 
\Rex. 


-Mysteries.    ^  ,  ,, 

Greater,      i  ^''«"^' 


The  Reader  mufl;  be  alnioft  fick  of  fo  much  villany, 
and  would  be  difgufted  with  the  minute  detail,  in  which 
the  cant  of  the  Order  is  ringing  continually  in  his  ears. 
I  fhall  therefore  only  give  fuch  a  fliort  extrad  as  may 
fix  our  notions  of  the  objeft  of  the  Order,  and  the 
morality  of  the  means  employed  for  attaining  it.  We 
need  not  go  back  to  the  lower  degrees,  and  fhall  begin 
with  the  ILLUMINATUS  D I  RIG  ENS,  or  Scotch 
JCnight. 

After  a  fhort  introduftion,  teaching  us  how  the  holy 
fecret  Chapter  of  Scotch  Knights  is  aflembled,  we  have, 

I.  Fuller  accounts  and  inftru6lions  relating  to  the  whole. 

II.  InftruQions  for  the  lower  claflcs  of  Mafonry.  III. 
Inftrudions  relating  to  Mafon  Lodges  in  general,  IV. 
Account  of  a  reception  into  this  degree,  with  the  bond 
which  each  fubfcribes  before  he  can  be  admitted.  V, 
Concerning  the  folemn  Chapter  for  reception.  VI. 
Opening  of  the  Chapter.  VII.  Ritual  of  Receptignj 
and  the  Oath.  VIII.  Shutting  of  the  Chapter.  IX. 
Agapi,  or  Love  Feaft.  X.  Ceremonies  of  the  confe- 
cration  of  the  Chapter,  Appendix  A,  Explanation  of 
the  Symbols  of  Free  Mafoiuy.  B,  Catcchifm  fair  the 
Scotch  Knight.     C,  Secret  Cypher. 


.THE  ILLUMINATI.  ^141 

In  No.  I.  it  is  faid  that  the  "  chief  ftudy  of  the  Scotch 
Knight  is  to  work  on  all  men  in  fuch  a  way  as  is  moil 
infmuating.  II.  He  mull  endeavour  to  acquire  the 
pofleffion  of  confiderable  property.  III.  In  all  Mafon 
Lodges  we  mud  try  fecretly  to  get  the  upper  hand.  The 
Mafons  do  not  know  what  Free  Mafonry  is,  their  high 
;obje6ls,  nor  their  highell  Superiors,  and  fliould  be  di- 
rected by  thofe  who  will  lead  them  along  the  right  road. 
In  preparing  a  candidate  for  the  degree  or  Scotch  Knight- 
hood, we  mull  bring   him  into  dilemmas  by   catching 

■  queftions. — We  muft  endeavour  to  get  the  difpofal  of 
the  money  of  the  Lodges  of  the  Free  Mafons,  or  at 
Jeaft  take  care  that  it  be  applied  to  purpoles  favorable: 
to  our  Order — but  this  mull  be  done  in  a  way  that  IhaU 
not  be  remarked.  Above  all,  we  muil  pulh  forwar-d 
^ith  all  our  ikill*,  the  plan  of  Ecleftic  Mai'onry^,  and  for 
this  purpofe  follow  up  the  circular  letter  already  fent  to 
all  the  Lodges  with  every  thing  that  can  increafo  their 
prefent  embarraflment."  In  the  bond  of  No.  I V.  the 
candidate  binds  himfelf  to  "  confider  and  treat  the  IlUi- 
minati  as  the  Superiors  of  Free  Mafonry,  and  endea- 
vour in  all  the  Maibn  Lodges  which  he  frequents,  to 
have  the  Mafonry  of  the   Illuminated,  and  particularly 

■  the  Scotch  Noviciate,  introduced  into  the  Lodge." 
(This  is  not  very  different  from  the  Mafonry  of  the 
Chevalier  de  V  Aigle  of  the  Rofaic  Mafonry,  making 
the  Mailer's  degree  a  fort  of  commemoration  of  the  paf- 
fion,  but  without  giving  that  character  to  ChriRianit/ 
wlhich  is  peculiar  to  Illuminatifm.)  Jefus  Chrill  is  re- 
prefented  as  the  enemy  of  fuperftitious  obfervances,  and 
the  affertor  of  the  Empire  of  Reafon  and  of  Brotherly 
love,  and  his  death  and  memory  as  dear  to  man  kind. 
This  evidently  paves  the  way  for  V/eifhaupt's  Chrifti- 
anity.  The  Scotch  Knight  alfo  engages  "to  coniider 
the   Superiors  of  the  Order  as  the  uiikiiown  Supenoii 


143  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

of  Free  Mafonry,  and  to  contribute  all  he  can  to  tlieir 
gradual  union."  In  the  Oath,  No.  VII.  the  candidate 
fays,  "  I  will  never  more  be  a  flatterer  of  the  great,  I 
will  never  be  a  lowly  fervant  of  princes ;  but  I  will  ftrive 
with  fpirit,  and  with  addrefs,  for  virtue,  wifdom,  and 
liberty.  I  will  powerfully  oppofe  fuperftition,  flander, 
and  defpotifm;  fo,  that  like  a  true  fon  of  the  Order,  I 
may  ferve  the  world.  I  will  never  facrifice  the  general 
good,  and  the  happinefs  of  the  world,  to  my  private 
intereft.  I  will  boldly  defend  my  Brother  againft  flan- 
der, will  follow  out  the  traces  of  the  pure  and  true  Re- 
ligi6n  pointed  out  to  me  in  my  inftruclions,  and  in  the 
do^rines  of  Mafonry  ;  and  will  faithfully  report  to  my 
Superiors  the  progrefs  I  make  therein." 

When  he  gets  the  fl;roke  which  dubs  him  a  Knight-, 
the  Prefes  fays  to  him,  "  Now  prove  thyfelf,  by  thy 
ability,  equal  to  Kings,  and  never  from  this  time  for- 
ward bow  thy  knee  to  one  who  is,  like  thyfelf,  but  a 
man." 

No.  IX  is  an  account  of  the  Love-Feaft. 

i/?.  There  is  a  Table  Lodge,  opened  as  ufual,  but 
in  virtue  of  the  ancient  Mafter-word.  Then  it  is  faid, 
"  Let  moderation,  fortitude,  morality,  and  genuine 
love  of  the  Brethren,  with  the  overflowing  of  innocent 
and  carelefs  mirth  reign  here."  (This  is  almoft  verba- 
tim from  Toland.) 

2c/,  In  the  middle  of  a  bye-table  is  a  chalice,  a  pot 
of  wine,  an  empty  plate,  and  a  plate  of  unleavened 
bread-i-All  is  covered  with  a  green  cloth. 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  343 

3^,  When  the  Table  Lodge  is  ended,  and  the  Pre- 
fed  fees  no  obftacle,  he  ftrikes  on  this  bye-table  the 
ftroke  of  Scotch  Mafter,  and  his  fignal  is  repeated  by 
the  Senior  Warden.  All  are  ftill  andfilent.  The  Pre- 
fed  lifts  off  the  cloth. 

Ath^  The  Prefe6l  afks,  whether  the  Knights  are  in  the 
difpofition  10  partake  of  the  Love-Feaft  in  earneft,  peace, 
and  contentment.  If  nonehefitates,  or  offers  to  retire, 
he  takes  the  plate  with  the  bread  and  fays, 

««  J.  of  N.  our  Grand-Mafter,  in  the  night  in  which 
he  was  betrayed  by  his  friends,  perfecuted  for  his  love 
for  truth,  imprifoned,  and  condemned  to  die,  affem- 
bled  his  trufty  Brethren,  to  celebrate  his  laft  Love-Feaft 
• — which  is  fignified  to  us  in  many  ways.  He  took  bread 
(taking  it)  and  broke  it  (breaking  it)  and  bleffed  it,  and 
gave  it  to  his  difciples,  cfec. — This  fliall  be  the  mark  of 
our  Holy  Union,  &c.  Let  each  of  you  examine  his 
bean,  whether  love  reigns  in  it,  and  whether  he,  in  full 
imitation  of  our  Grand-Mafter,  is  ready  to  lay  down 
his  life  for  his  Brethren. 

"  Thanks  be  to  our  Grand-Mafter,  who  has  appoint- 
ed this  feaft  as  a  memorial  of  his  kindnefs,  for  the  unit- 
ing of  the  hearts  of  thofe  who  love  him. — Go  in  peace, 
and  blefled  be  this  new  Affociation  which  we  have  form- 
ed.— Blefted  be  ye  who  remain  loyal  and  ftrive  for  the 
good  caufe." 

5^,  The  Prefe6l  immediately  clofes  the  Chapter  with 
the  ufual  ceremonies  of  the  Lc^s  dc  Table. 

6th,  It  is  to  be  obferved,  that  no  prieft  of  the  Order 
muft  be  prefent  at  this  Love-Feaft,  and  that  even  the 
Brother  Servitor  quits  tha  Lodge. 


144.  THE  ILLUMINATL 

I  muft  obferve  here,  that  Philo,  the  inamjrfa8.tirer  ot 
this  ritual,  has  done  it  very  injudicioufly ;  it  has  no  re-, 
femblance  whatever  to  the  Love-Feaft  of  the  primitive 
Chriftians,  and  is  merely  a  copy  of  a  fimilar  thing  in  one 
of  the  fleps  of  French  Mafonry.  Philo's  reading  ir>' 
chirrch-hiftory  was  probably  very  fcanty,  or  he  trufted 
that  the  candidates  would  not  be  very  nice  in  their  exa- 
iflination  of  it,  and  he  imagined  that  it  would  do  wel^ 
enough,  and  "  tickle  fuch  as  had  a  religious  hankering.'"' 
Spartacus  diftiked  it  exceedingly — it  did  not  accord' 
\vith  his  ferious  conceptions,  and  he  juilly  calls  it  Joucr 
la  Religion, 

The  difcourfe  of  reception  is  to  be  found  alfo  in  the 
fecret  correfpondence  [Nachtrag  II.  Ahthcilung^  p.  44). 
But  it  is  needleis  to  infert  it  here.  I  have  given  the  fub- 
ftance  of  this  and  of  all  the  Cofmo-political  declamati- 
ons already  in  the  panegyric  introduftion  to  the  account 
of  the  procefs  of  education.  And  in  Spartacus's  letter, 
and  in  Philo's  I  have  dven  an  abftraft  of  the  introduc- 
tion  to  the  explanation  given  in  this  degree  of  the  fym- 
bols  of  Free  Mafonry.  With  refpeft  to  the  explanation 
i^tftlf,  it  is.as  flovenly  and  wretched  as  can  be  imagined, 
and  fliows  that  Spartacus  trufted  tq  much  more  operar 
tivc  principles  in  the  human  heart  for  the  reception  of 
his  nonfenfe  than  the  diftates  of  unbiaffed  reafon.  None 
but  promifmg  fubjeds  were  admitted  thus  far — fuch  as 
•would  not  boggle  ;  and  their  principles  were  already 
fufficiently  apparent  to  alTure  him  that  they  would  be 
contented  with  any  thing  that  made  game  of  religion,  and 
v;ould  be  diverted  by  the  ferioufne-fs  which  a  chance  de.- 
votee  might  exhibit  during  thefe  hlly  caricatures  of 
Chriftianity  and  Free  Mafonry.  But. there  is  cpnfidera- 
ble  add'refs  in  the  way  that  Spartacus  prepares  his  pupils 


THE  ILLUMINATI,  145 

for  leaving  all  this  mummery  fliown  in  its  true  colours, 
and  overturned. 

"  Examine,  tead,  think  on  thefe  fymbols.  There 
«re  many  things  which  one  cannot  find  out  without  a 
guide  nor  even  learn  without  inftruQion.  They  require 
ftudy  and  zeaL  Should  you  in  any  future  period  think 
that  you  have  conceived  a  clearer  notion  of  them,  that 
you  have  found  a  paved  road,  declare  your  difcoveries 
to  your  Superiors  ;  it  is  thus  that  you  improve  your 
mind  ;  they  expeft  this  of  you  ;  they  know  the  true  path 
* — but  will  not  point  it  out — enough  if  they  affift  you  in 
every  approach  to  it,  and  warn  you  when  you  recede 
from  it.  They  have  even  put  things  in  your  way  to  try 
your  powers  of  leading  yourfelf  through  the  difficult 
irack  of  difcovery.  In  this  procefs  the  weak  head  finds 
only  child's  play — the  initiated  finds  objefts  of  thought 
which  language  cannot  exprefs,  and  the  thinking  mind 
finds  food  for  his  faculties,"  By  fuch  forewarnings  as 
ihefe  Weifhaupt  leaves  room  for  any  deviation,  for  any 
fentiment  or  opinion  of  the  individual  that  he  may  after- 
wards choofe  to  encourage,  and  "  to  whifper  in  their  ear 
(as  he  exprefles  it)  many  things  which  he  did  not  find  it 
prudent  to  infert  in  a  printed  compend." 

But  all  the  principles  and  aim  of  Spartacus  and  of  his 
Order  are  moft  diftindly  feen  in  the  third  or  Myftery 
Clafs.  I  proceed  therefore  to  give  fome  account  of  iu 
By  the  Table  it  appears  to  have  two  degrees,  the  Leffcr 
and  the  Greater  Myftcries,  each  of  which  have  two  de- 
partments, one  relating  chiefly  to  Religion  and  the  other 
to  Politics. 

The  Prieft's  degree  contains,  1.  An  ImroduQion.  2. 
Further  Accounts  of  the. Reception- int.o  this  degree.     3. 

X 


i^G  THE  ILLUMINATE 

What  is  called  Inllruftion  iii  the  Third  Chamber,  which 
the  candidate  mull  read  over.  4.  The  Ritual  of  Re;- 
ception.  5.  Initruttioii  for  the  Firft  Degree  of  the 
Prieft's  Clafs,  called  Injiruciio  in  Sctcntificis.  6.  Ac- 
count of  the  Coiifecration  of  a  Dean,  the  Superior  of 
this  Lower  Ortler  of  Prieib. 

The  Regent  degree  contains,  1.  Direftions  to  the 
iProvincial  concerning  the  difpenfation  of  this  degree. 
2.  Ritual  of  Reception.  3.  Syftem  of  DireQion  for 
the  whole  Order.  4.  Inftruclion  for  the  whole  Regent 
degree.  5.  InftrufUon  for  the  Prefects  or  Local  Supe- 
liors.     6.   Inftruttion  for  the  Provincials. 

:,  The  .moft  remarkable  thing  in  the  Prieft's  degree  is 
the  Inftrutlion  in  the  Third  Chamber.  It  is  to  be  found 
in  the  private  correfpondence.  ( Nachtrage  Original 
Schriften  1787,  2d  Abtheiiimg^  page  44.)  There  it 
has  the  title  Difcourfe  to  the  Illuminati  Dirigenks,  or 
Scotch  Knights.  In  the  critical  hiftory,  which  is  an- 
nexed to  the  'Neucjie  Arhcitung^xhQit  is  an  acxount  given 
of  the  reafon  for  this  denomination  ;  and  notice  is  taken 
of  fome  differences  between  the  inIlru6lions  here  con> 
tained  and  that  difcourfe. 

'  This  inftru6lion  begins  with  fore  complaints  of  the^ 
IxDW  condition  of  the'human  race ;  and  the  caufes  are  de- 
duced from  religion  and  ftate-government.  "  Men  ori- 
ginally led  a  patriarchal  life,  in  which  every  father  of  a 
family  was  the  fole  lord  of  his  houfe  and  his  property, 
while  he  himfelf  poflcflt^d  general  freedom  and  equlity. 
But  they  fuffered  thcmielves  to  be  oppreffed — gave 
ihemfclves  up  to  civil  iocieties,  and  formed  ilates.  Even 
by  this  they  fell ;  and  this  is  the  fall  of  man,  by  which 
f>tev  were  thfuft  into  upfpcakhblc   niifcry.     To  gel  out 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  i^f 

«r  this  ftate,  to  be  freed  and  born  again,  tbcre  is  no. 
mother  mean  than  the  ufe  of  pure  Reafon,  by  which  a 
general  nnorality  may  be  eftablifhed,  which  will  put  mart 
in  a  condition  to  jrovern  himfelf,  regain  his  oriotinal' 
worth,  and  difpenfe  with  all  political  fupports,  and  par- 
ticularly with  rulers.  This  can  be  done  in  no  other  way 
but  by  fccret  aflbciations,  which  will  by  degrees,  and 
in  filence,  poflefs  themfelyes  of  the  government  of  the 
States,  and  make  ufe  of  thofe  means  for  this  purpofe 
which  the  wicked  ufe  for  attainingriheir  bafe  ends.  Prin- 
ces  and  Priefts  are  in  particular,  and  kat"  exochsn,  the 
wicked,  whofe  hands  we  mufl  tie  up  by  means  of  thefe 
afibciations,  if  we  cannot  root  them  out  altogether. 

"  Kings  are  parents.  The  'paternal  power  ceafes  with 
the  incapacity  of  the  child  ;  and  the  father  injures  his 
child,  if  he  pretends  to  retain  his  right  beyond  this  pc'- 
riod.  When  a  nation  comes  of  age,  their  ftate  of  ward- 
foip  is -at  an  end." 

Here  follows  a  long  declamation  agalnfl  patriotifm, 
as  a  narrow-minded  principle  when  comparetl  with  true 
Cofmo-politifm.  Nobles  are  reprefented  as  *•'  a  race  df 
men  that  ferve  not  the  nation  but  the  Prince,  whom  a 
hint  from  the  Sovereign  (lirs  up  againft  the  nation,  who 
are  retained  fervants  and  minifters  of  defpotifm,  and  the 
mean  for  oppreffing  national  liberty.  Kings  are  accufed 
x)f  a  tacit  convention,  under  the  flattering  appellation  of 
the  balance  of  power,  to  keep  nations  in  fubjection. 

"  The  mean  to  regain  P.eafon  her  rights — to  raife  li- 
berty from  its  afl>es— to  rellore  to  man  his  original  nghis 
' — to  produce  the  previous  revolution  in  the  miad-^f 
man — to  obtain  an  eternal  vi6lory  over  opprcfibrs — ami 
to  work  the  redemption  of  mankind,  is  fecret  ichools  of 


148  THE  ILLUMINATf. 

•\v'ifdom.  When  the  worthy  have  ftrengthened  their  af- 
fociation  by  numbers,  they  are  fecure,  and  then  they 
begin  to  become  powerful,  and  terrible  to  the  wicked, 
of  whom  many  will,  for  fafety,  amend  themfelves — 
many  will  come  over  to  our  party,  and  we  fhall  bind 
the  hands  of  the  reft,  and  finally  conquer  them.  Who- 
ever fpreads  general  illumination  augments  mutual  fecu- 
rity ;  illumination  and  fecurity  make  princes  unneffary  ; 
illumination  performs  this  by  creating  an  effeftive  Mo- 
yality,  and  Morality  makes  a  nation  of  full  age  fit  to  go- 
vern itfelf ;  and  fince  it  is  not  impoflible  to  produce  a 
juft  Morality,  it  is  poflible  to  regain  freedom  for  the 
world." 

"  We  mud  therefore  ftrengthen  our  band,  and  eRa- 
blifh  a  legion,  which  fhall  reftore  the  rights  of  man, 
original  liberty  and  independence.. 

«  Jefus  Chrift"— but  I  am  fick  of  all  this.  The  foK 
lowing  queftions  are  put  to  the  candidate  ; 

1.  "  Are  our  civil  conditions  in  the  world  the  dtd't- 
nations  that  feem  to  be  the  end  of  our  nature,  or  the 
purpofes  for  which  man  was  placed  on  this  earth, -or  are 
they  not  ?  Do  ftates,  civil  obligations,  popular  religion, 
fulfil  the  intentions  of  men  who  eftabliflicd  them  ?  Do 
fecret  aflTociations  promote  inftruftion  and  true  human 
happinefs,  or  are  they  the  children  of  neceflity,  of  tlic 
multifarious  wants,  of  unnatural  conditions,  or  the  in- 
ventions of  vain  and  cunning  men  ?  ' 

2.  "  What  civil  afTociation,  what  fcience  do  you 
think  to  the  purpofc,  and  what  arc  not  ?" 


THE  ILLUMIMATX  .149 

3.  '•  Has  there  ever  been  any  other  in  the  world,  is 
there  no  other  more  fimple  condition,  and  what  do  yoa 
think  of  it  ?" 

4.  "  Does  it  appear  poflible,  after  having  gone  through 
all  the  nonentities  of  our  civil  conrtitutions,  to  recover 
for  once  our  firft  fimplicity,  and  get  back  to  this  honor- 
able uniformity  ?" 

5.  "  How  can  one  begin  this  noble  attempt ;  by  means 
©f  open  lupport,  by  forcible  revolution,  or  by  what 
other  way  ?" 

6.  "  Does  Chriftianity  give  us  any  hint  to  this  pur- 
pofe  ?  does  it  not  recognife  fuch  a  bleiTed  condition  as 
once  the  lot  of  man,  and  asftill  recoverable  ?" 

7.  '*  But  is  this  holy  religion  the  religion  that  is  now 
profefTed  by  any  fed  on  earth,  or  is  it  a  better  ?" 

8.  "  Can  we  learn  this  religion — can  the  world,  as  it 
is,  bear  the  light  ?  Do  you  think  that  it  would  be  of 
Tervice,  before  numerous  obftacles  are  removed,  if  we 
taught  men  this  purified  religion,  fublime  philofophy, 
and  the  ^rt  of  governing  themfelvcs  ?  Or  would  not 
this  hurt,  by  roufing  the  interefted  paffions  of  men  ha- 
bituated to  prejudices,  who  would  oppoie  this  as  wick- 
fcd  ?" 

g.  "  May  it  not  be  more  advifable  to  do  away  thefc 
corruptions  bit  by  bit,  in  filence,  and  for  this  purpofe 
to  propagate  thefe  falulary  and  heart-confoling  do^rines 
ip  fecret  ?" 

10.  "  Do  we  not  perceive  traces  of  fuch  a  fecret  doc- 
trine in  the  ancient  fchools  of  philofpphy,  in  the  doc 


t-o.  THE  ILLUMINATL 

trines  and  inftruftions  of  the  Bible,  which  Chrift,  the 
Redeemer  and  Liberator  of  the  human  race,  gave  to  his 
trufty  difciples  ?  Do  yoii  not  obferve  an  edu cation, ~pro-. 
ceeding  by  fteps  of  this  kind,  handed  down  to  us  from 
liis  time  till  the  prefent  ?" 

In  the  ceremonial  of  Reception,  crowns  and  fceptres 
sre  reprefented  as  tokens  of  human  degradation.  '•  The 
plan  of  operation,  by  which  our  higher  degrees  a6l, 
muft  work  powerfully  on  the  world,  and  mult  give  ano- 
ther turn  to  all  our  prefent  conftitutions." 

Many  other  queftions  are  put  to  the  pupil  during  his 
preparation,  and  his  anfvvers  are  given  in  writing.   Some 
of  thefe  refcr.ipts  are  to  be  found  in  tlie  lecret  correfpon- 
dence.     Thus,  "  How  far  is  the  pofitioh  true,  that  all 
thofe  means   may   be  u fed  for   a  good    purpofe  which 
the   wieked   have  employed   for  a  bad?"    And  along 
with  this  queftion  there  is   an  injunQiori  to  take  counfel 
from  the  opinions  and  conduQ:  of  the  learned   and  wor- 
thy out  of  the  fociety.     In  one  of  the  anfvvers,  the  ex- 
ample of  a   great  philofopher  and  Cofmo-polite  is  ad- 
duced, who  betrayed  a  private  correfpondence  entrufted 
io  him,  for   the  fervice  of  freedom  ;  the   cafe  was  Dr. 
.Franklin's.      In  another,  the   power  of  the  Order  was 
.<3xtended  to  the  putting  the  individual  to  death  ;  and  the 
rcafon  given,  was,  that  '-this  power  was  allowed  to  all 
Sovereignties,  for  the  good  of  the  State,  and  therefore 
belonged  to  the  Order,  which  was  to  govern  the  world." 
^ "  N.  B.  We  mull  acquire  the  direflion  of  educa- 
tion— of  church-management — of  the  .profefforial  chair, 
,Tnd  of  the    pulpit.      We  muft  .bring  our  opinions  int^o 
fafliion  by  every  art — Ipread  them  among  the  people  by 
the  help  of  young  writers.     We  muft  preach  the  warm- 
eil  concern  for  humanity,  and  make  people  indifferent 


THE  ILLUMINATL  151 

to  an  other  relations.  We  mull  take  care  that  our  wri- 
ters be  well  puffed,  and  (hat  the  Reviewers  do  not  de- 
preciate them  ;  therefore  we  mud  endeavour  by  every 
mean  to  gain  over  the  Reviewers  and  Journalills ;  and 
we  muft  alfo  try  to  g^in  the  booklellers,  who  in  tim« 
will  fee  that  it  is  their  intereft  to  fide  with  us." 

I  conclude  this  account  of  the  degree  of  Prefbyter 
with  remarking,  that  there  were  two  copies  of  it  employ- 
ed occafionally.  In  one  of  them  all  the  moft  offenfivs 
things  in  refpeQ  of  church  and  ftate  were  left  out. 

•  In  the  Regent  degree,  the  proceedings  and  inftruc- 
tions  are  conducted  in  the  fame  manner.  Here,  it  is 
iaid,  "  We  mail  as  much  as  poffible  fefed  for  this  de- 
gree perfons  who  are  free,  independent  of  all  princes  ; 
particularly  fuch  as  have  frequently  declared  themfelves 
difcontented  with  the  ufu^linftitutions,  and  cheir  wifties 
to  fee  a  better  government  eftabliflied." 

Catching  queftions  are  put  to  the  candidate  far  this 
degree  ;  fuch  as, 

•  1.  "  Would  the  Society  be  objeBionable  which 
fliould  (till  the  greater  revolution  of  nature  fhould  be 
ripe)  put  monarchs  and  rulers  out  of  the  condition  to  do 
harm  ;  which  in  filence  prevents  the  abufe  of  power,  by 
furrounding  the  great  with  its  members,  and  thus  not 
only  prevents  their  doing  mifchief,  but  even  makes 
them  do  good  ?" 

2.  "  Is  not  the  objeftion  unjuft,  That  fuch  a  Society 
may  abufe  its  power.  Do  not  our  rulers  frequently 
abufe  their  power,  though  we  are  filent  ?  This  power  i* 
nat  io.iecure  as  in  the   hands  of  our  Members,  whooi 


152  T^E  ILLUMINATI. 

v/e  train  up  \vith  fo  much  care,  and  place  about  prince^ 
after  mature  deliberation  and  choice.  If"  any  govern- 
ment can  be  harmlefs  which  is  eredcd  by  man,  liirely  it 
mult  be  ours,  which  is  founded  on  morality,  fore-fight, 
talents,  liberty,  and  virtue,"  <&:c. 

The  candidate  is  prefented  for  reception  in  the  cha- 
Tafter  of  a  flave;  and  it  is  demanded  of  him  what  has 
brought  him  into  thismoft  miferablc  of  all  conditions^. 
He  anfwers — Society — the  State — SubmifTivenefs — • 
Falfe  Religion.  A  fl<^eleton  is  pointed  out  to  him,  at 
the  feet  of  which  are  laid  a  Crown  and  a  Sword.  He 
is  afked,  whether  that  is  the  fkeleton  of  a  King,  a  No- 
bleman, or  a  Beggar  ?  As  he  cannot  decide,  the  Pre« 
fident  of  the  meeting  fays  to  him,  "  the  charader  of  be- 
ing a  Man  is  the  only  one  that  is  of  importance." 

In  a  long  declamation  on  the  hackneyed  topics,  we 
have  here  and  there  fome  thoughts  which  have  not  yet 
come  before  us. 

"  We  muft  allow  the  underlings  to  imagine  (but  with* 
out  telling  them  the  truth)  that  we  direft  all  the  Free 
Mafon  Lodges,  and  eveii  all  other  Orders,  and  that  the 
greateft  monarchs  are  under  our  guidance,  which  indeed 
is  here  and  there  the  cafe. 

*'  There  is  no  way  of  influencing  men  fo  powerfully 
as  by  means  of  the  women.  Thefe  fhould  therefore  be 
our  chief  fludy  ;  we  fhould  infinuate  ourfelves  into  their 
good  opinion,  give  them  hints  of  emancipation  from 
the  tyranny  of  public  opinion,  and  of  flanding  up  for 
ihemfelves  ;  it  will  be  an  immenfe  relief  to  their  enllav- 
ed  minds  to  be  freed  from  any  one  bond  of  refctaint, 
and  it  will  fire  them  the  mgre,  and  caufe  them  to  work 


THE  ILLUMINATL  ^153 

'for  us  with  zeal,  without  knowing  that  they  do  fq-  for 
ihey  will  only  be  indulging  their  own  defire  of  perfonal 
admiration. 

"  We  mull  win  the  common  people  in  every  corner. 
This  will  be  obtained  chiefly  by  means  of  the  fchools, 
and  by  open,  hearty  behaviour,  fliow,  condefcenfion, 
popularity,  and  toleration  of  their  jprejudices,  which  we 
ihall  at  leifure  root  out  and  difpel.        .       ' 

"  If  a  writer  publifhes  any  thing  that  attrafts  notice, 
and  is  in  itfelf  juft,  but  does  not  accord  with  our  plan, 
we  muft  endeavour  to  win  him  over,  or  decry  hira. 

"  A  chief  objeQof  our  care  muft  be  to  keep  down 
that  flavifh  veneratiqn  for  princes  which  fo  much  difgra- 
ces  all  nations.  Even  in  the  joi-difant  free  England, 
the  filly  Monarch  fays.  We  are  gracioufly  pleafed,  and 
the  more  fimple  people  fay,  Amen.  Thefe  men,  com- 
monly very  weak  heads,  are  only  the  farther  corrupted 
by  this  fervile  flattery.  But  let  us  at  once  give  an  ex- 
ample of  our  fpirit  by  our  behaviour  with  Princes  >  we 
muft  avoid  all  familiarity — never  entruft  ourfelves  to 
them — behave  with  precifion,  but  with  civility,  as  to 
other  men — fpeak  of  them  on  an  equal  footing — this 
will  in  time  teach  them  that  they  are  by  nature  men,  if 
they  have  fenfe  and  fpirit,  and  that  only  by  convention 
they  are  Lords.  We  muft  afliduoufly  collect;  anecdotes, 
and  the  honorable  and  mean  a6lions,  both  of  the  leaft 
and  the  greateft,  and  when  their  names  occur  in  any 
records  which  are  read  in  our  meetings,  let  them  ever 
be  accompanied  by  thefe  marks  of  their  real  worth. 

"  The  great  ftrength  of  our  Order  lies  in  its  conceal- 
ment ;  let  it  never  appear  in  any  place  in  its  own  name, 

V   • 


154  THE  I'LLUMINATI. 

but  always  covered  by  another  name,  and  another  oc- 
cupation. None  is  Jitter  than  the  three  lower  degrees  of 
Free  Mafonry  ;  the  public  is  accii/iomed  to  it,  expeds  lit- 
tle from  it,  and  therefore  takes  little  notice  of  it.  Next 
to  this,  the  form  of  a  learned  or  literary  fociety  is  beft 
fuited  to  our  purpofe,  and  had  Free  Mafonry  not  exift- 
ed,  this  cover  would  have  been  employed ;  and  it  may 
be  much  more  than  a  cover,  it  may  he  a  powerful  engine 
in  our  hands.  By  efablifJiing  reading focieties,  and  fub- 
fcription  libraries,  and  taking  theft  under  our  direflion^ 
and  fupplying  them  through  our  labours,  we  may  turn  the 
public  mind  which  way  ive  will. 

In  like  manner  we  muft  try  to  obtain  an  influence  in 
the  military  academies  (this  may  be  of  mighty  confe- 
quence)  the  printing-houfes,  bookfellers  fhops,  chapters, 
and  in  fliort  in  all  offices  which  have  any  eflPe6t,  either 
in  forming,  or  in  managing,  or  even  in  direfting  the 
mind  of  man  :  painting  and  engraving  are  highly  worth 
our  care."* 

"  Could  our  Prefeft  (obferve  it  is  to  the  Illuminati 
Regentes  he  is  fpeaiking,  whofe  officers  are  PrefeMi)  fill 
the  judicatories  of  a  ftate  with  our  w^orthy  members,  he 
does  all  that  man  can  do  for  the  Order.  It  is  better  than 
to  gain  the  Prince  himfelf.  Princes  ffiould  never  get  be- 
yond the  Scotch  knigthood.  They  cither  never  profe- 
cute  any  thing,  or  they  twill  every  thing  to  their  own 
advantage. 

*  (They  were  flrongly  fufpefted  of  having  publirSed  fome  fcan* 
dalous  caricatures,  and  fome  very  immoral  prints.)  They  fctupled 
at  no  mean,  hovi^ever  bafe,  for  corrupting  the  nation.  Mirabeau 
had  done  the  fame  thing  at  Berlin.  By  political  caricatures  and 
filthy  prints,  they  corrupt  even  luch  as  canaot  read. 


THE  ILLUMINATf. 


'Dt) 


"  A  Literary  Society  is  the  moft  proper  form  for  the 
introduftion  of  our  Order  into  any  ilate  where  we  arc 
yet  ftrangers."     (Mark  this  !) 

"  The  power  of  the  Order  muft  furely  be  turned  to 
the  advantage  of  its  Members.  All  muft  be  afliiled. 
They  muft  be  preferred  to  all  perfons  otherwife  of  equ^l 
merit.  Money,  fervices,  honor,  goods,  and  blood,  muft 
Be  expended  for  the  fully  proved  Brethren,  and  the  un- 
fortunate muft  be  reheved  by  the  funds  of  the  Society." 

As  evidence  that  this  was  not  only  their  inftruftions, 
but  alfo  their  alhduous  praftice,  take  the  following  report 
from  the  overfeer  of  Greece  (Bavaria.) 

In  Cato's  hand-wriiing. 

"  The  number  (about  600)  of  Members  relates  so 
Eavaria  alone. 

"  In  Munich  there  is  a  welf-conftituted  meeting  of  //- 
luminati  Ma]ores,a.  meeting  of  excellent  Illuminati  Mi- 
nores,  a  refpetlable  Grand  Lodge,  and  t\i!KD  Minerval 
Affemblies.  There  is  a  Minerval  Aftembly  at  Freyf- 
fmg,  at  Landlberg,  at  Burghaufen,  at  Stralburg,  at 
Ingolftadt,  and  at  laft  at  Regenfburg.'^ 

"  At  Munich  we  have  bought  a  houfe,  and  by  clever 
meafu-res  have  brought  things  fo  far,  that  the  citizens 
take  no  notice  of  it,  and  even  fpeak  of  us  with  efteem. 
We  can  openly  go  to  the  houfe  every  day,  and  carpy 
on  the  buhnefs  of  the  Lodge.     This  is  a  CTjcat  deal  for 

o  o 

*  In.  this  fmall  turbulent  city  there  were  eleven  fecret  focietles  of 
Malons,  Rofycrucians,  Clafr-voyants,"  &c. 


156  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

this  city.  In  the  houfe  is  a  good  mufeum  of  natural 
hiftory,  and  apparatus  for  experiments ;  alfo  a  library 
which  daily  increafes.  The  garden  is  well  occupied  by 
botanic  fpecimens,  and  the  whole  has  the  appearance  of 
a  fociety  of  zealous  naturalifts. 

"  We  get  all  the  literary  journals.  We  take  care, 
by  well-timed  pieces,  to  make  the  citizens  and  the  Prin- 
ces a  little  more  noticed'for  certain  little  flips.  We  op- 
pofe  the  monks  with  all  our  might,  and  with  great  fuc- 
cefs. 

"  The  Lodge  is  conftituted  entirely  according  to  our 
fyftem,  and  has  broken  off  entirely  from  Berlin,  and  we 
have  nearly  finilhed  our  tranfaciions  with  the  Lodges  of 
Poland,  and  fhail  have  them  under  our  direction. 

"  By  the  adivity  of  our  Brethren,  the  Jefuits  have 
been  kept  out  of  all  the  profelTorial  chairs  at  Ingoliladt, 
and  our  friends  prevail." 

"  The  Widow  Duchefs  has   fet  up    her  academy  en- 
.  tirely  according  to  our  plan,  and  we  have  all  the  Pro- 
feflbrs  in  the  Order.     Five  of  them  are  excellent,  and 
the  pupils  will  be  prepared  for  us. 

"  We  have  got  Pylades  put  at  the  head  of  the  Fife, 
and  he  has  the  church-money  at  his  difpofal.  By  pro- 
perly ufing  this  money,  we  have   been  enabled  to  put 

our  Brother 's  houfehold  in  good  order  ;  which  he 

had  deftroyed    by*goingto   the    Jews.     We  have  fup- 
ported  more  Brethren  under  fimilar  misfortunes. 

*'  Our  Ghoftly  Brethren  have  been  very  fortunate 
this  laft  year,  for  we  have  procured  for  them  feverai 
good  benefices,  paiiHieSj  Lutoilhipsj  Sec. 


THE  ILLUMINATL  157 

*' Through  our  means  Arminius  and  Cortez  have 
gotten  ProfefTorfhips,  and  many  of  our  younger  BreiK- 
ren  have  obtained  Burfaries  by  our  help. 

"  We  have  been  very  fuccefsful  againft  the  Jefuits, 
and  brought  things  to  fuch  a  bearing,  that  their  reve- 
nues, fuch  as  the  Miffion,  the  Golden  Alms,  the  Ex- 
ercifes,  and  the  Converfion  Box,  are  now  under  the 
management  of  our  friends.  So  are  alfo  their  concerns 
in  the  univerfity  and  the  German  fchooi  foundations. 
The  application  of  all  will  be  determined  prefently,  and 
we  have  fix  members  and  four  friends  in  the  Court. 
This  has  coft  our  fenate  fome  nights  want  of  flecp. 

"  Two  of  our  bed  youths  have  got  journies  from  the 
Court,  and  they  will  go  to  Vienna,  where  they  will  do 
us  great  fervice. 

"  All  the  German  Schools,  and  the  Benevolent  Soci- 
ety, are  at  laft  under  our  direction. 

''  We  have  got  feveral  zealous  members  in  the  courts 
of  juftice,  and  we  are  able  to  afford  them  pay,  and 
other  good  additions. 

"  Lately,  we  have  got  poffeflion  of  the  Bartholomew 
Inftitution  for  young  clergymen,  having  fecured  all  its 
fupporters.  Through  this  we  fliall  be  able  to  fupply 
Bavaria  with  fit  priefts. 

"  By  a  letter  from  Philo  we  learn,  that  one  of  the 
higheft  dignities  in  the  church  was  obtained  for  a  zea- 
lous Illuminatus,  in  oppofition  even  to  the  authority 
and  right  of  the  Bifnop  of  Spire,  who  is  repjeiented  as 
a  bigoited  and  tyrannical  prieit." 


158  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

Such  were  the  lefler  myfteries  of  the  Illuminati.  But 
there  remain  the  higher  myfteries.  The  fyftem  of  thefe 
has  not  been  printed,  and  the  degrees  were  conferred 
only  by  Spartacus  himfelf,  from  papers  which  he  never 
entrufted  to  any  perfon.  They  were  only  read  to  the 
"candidate,  but  no  copy  was  taken.  The  pubhflier  of 
the  Neuejle  Ar beitung  {^d^ys  that  he  has  read  them  (fo  fays 
Grollman.)  He  fays,  "  that  in  the  flrft  degree  of  Ma- 
gus or  Philosophus,  the  doftrines  are  the  fame  with 
thofe  of  Spinoza,  where  all  is  material,  God  and  the 
world  are  the  fame  thing,  and  all  religion  whatever  is 
without  foundation,  and  the  contrivance  of  ambitious 
men."  The  fecond  degree,  or  Rex,  teaches,  "  tl>at 
every  peafant,  citizen,  and  houfeholder  is  a  fovereign, 
as  in  the  Patriarchal  ftate,  and  that  nations  muft  be 
brought  back  to  that  ftate,  by  whatever  means  are  con- 
ducible — peaceably,  if  it  can  be  done  ;  but,  if  not,  then 
by  force — for  all  fubordination  muft  vanifti  from  the 
face  of  the  earth." 

The  author  fays  further,  that  the  German  Union  was, 
to  his  certam  knowledge,  the  work  of  the  Illuminati. 

The  private  correfpondence  that  has  been  publifhed 
is  by  no  means  the  whole  of  what  was  difcovered  at 
Landfliut  and  BafTus  Hoft',  and  government  got  a  great 
deal  of  ufeful  information,  which  was  concealed,  both 
out  of  regard  to  the  families  of  the  perfons  concerned, 
and  alio  that  the  reft  might  not  know  the  utmoft  extent 
of  the  difcovery,  and  be  lefs  on  then'  guard.  A  third 
colle£lion  was  found  under  the  foundation  of  the  houfe 
in  which  the  Lodge  Theodor  von  guten  Rath  had  been 
held.  But  none  of  this  has  appeared.  Enough  furely 
has  been  difcovered  to  give  the  public  a  very  juft  idea 
of  the  defigns  of  the  Society  and  its  conneBions. 


THE  ILLUMINATE 


5^ 


Lodges   were  difcovered,  and  are  mentioned   in  the 
private  papers  already  publiflied,  in  the  following  places. 


Munich 

Ingolftadt 

Frankfort 

Echiladt 

Hanover 

Brunfwick 

Calbe 

Magdenburgh 

CaflTel 

Ofnabruck 

Weimar 

Upper  Saxony  (feveral) 

Auftria  (14) 

Wellphalia  (feveral) 

Heidelberg 

Mannheim 

Strafburgh  (5) 

Spire 

Worms 

DuffeldorfF 

Cologne  , 

Bonn  (4) 

Livonia  (many) 

Courland  (many) 

Frankendahl 

Alface  (many) 

\''ienna  (4) 

America  (feveral).     N.  B 


HcfTe  (many) 

Buchenwerter 

Monpeliard 

Stutgard  (3) 

Carlfruhe 

Anfpach 

Neuwied  (2) 

Mcntz  (2) 

Poland  (jnany) 

Turin 

England  (8) 

Scotland  (2) 

Warfaw  (2) 

Deuxponts 

Coufel 

Tre\'^s  (2) 

Aix-la-Chappellc  (2) 

Bartfchied 

Hahrenberg 

Switzerland  (many) 

Rome 

Naples 

Ancona 

Florence 

France 

Halland  (many) 

Drefden  (4) 

This  was  before  178G. 


I  have  picked  up  the  names  of  the  following  members, 
Spartacus  Weifhaupt,  Profelfor. 


i6o 


THE  ILLUMINATI. 


rbilo, 

Amelius, 
Bayard, 
Diomedes, 
Cato, 


Pythagoras, 


Hannibal, 

Brutus, 

Lucian, 

Zoroafter,   Confucius, 
Hermes  Trifmegiftus, 


Knigge,  Freyherr,  i.  c. 

Gentleman. 
Bode,  F.  H. 
Bufche,  F.  H. 
Conftanza,  Marq. 
Zwack,  Lawyer. 
Torring,  Count. 
Kreitmaier,  Prince. 
Utfchneider,  ProfefTor. 
Coflandey,  ProfefTor. 
Renner,  ProfefTor. 
Grunberger,  ProfefTor, 
Balderbufch,  F.  H. 
Lippert,  Counfellor. 
Kundl,  ditto. 
Bart,  ditto. 
Leiberhauer,  Priefl. 
Kundler,  ProfefTor. 
Lowling,  Profeffor. 
Vachency,  Councellor, 
Morauflcy,  Count. 
Hoffftetter,  Surveyor  of 

Roads. 
Strobl,  Book  Teller. 
Weflenrieder,   ProfefTor^i 
Babo,  ProfefTor. 
Baader,  ProfefTor. 
Burzes,   Priefl. 
Pfruntz,   Priefl. 
BafTus,  Baron. 
Savioli,  Count. 
Nicholai,  BookTeiler. 
Bahrdt,   Clergyman. 
Baierhamer. 
Socher,  School  InTpeRor. 


THE  ILLUMINATL 


'i6i 


Dillis,  Abb6. 

Sulla, 

MeggenhofF,  Paymafter, 

Danzer,  Canon. 

Braun,  ditto. 

Fifcher,  Magiftrate. 

Frauenberger,  Baron. 

Kaltner,  Lieutenant, 

Pythagoras, 

Drexl,   Librarian, 

Marius, 

Hertel,  Canon. 

Dachfel. 

Billing,  Counfellor, 

Seefeld,  Count. 

Gunflieim,  ditto. 

Morgellan,  ditto. 

Salad  in, 

Ecker,  ditto. 

Ow,  Major. 

Werner,  Counfellor. 

Cornelius  Scipio, 

Berger,  ditto. 

Wortz,  Apothecary. 

Mauvillon,  Colonel. 

Mirabeau,  Count. 

Orleans,  Duke. 

Hochinaer. 

Tycho  Brahe, 

Gafpar,  Merchant, 

Thales, 

Kapfinger. 

Attila, 

Sauer. 

Ludovicus  Bavarusj 

Lofi. 

Shaftefbury, 

Steger. 

Coriolanus, 

Tropppnero,  Zufchwartz, 

Timon, 

Michel. 

Tamerlane, 

Lange, 

Livius, 

BadorfFer. 

Cicero, 

Pfeft. 

Ajax  J 

MaCfeahaufenj  Count» 

W 

i6z  ^THE  ILLUMINATL 

I  have  not  been  able  to  find  who  perfonated  Minos, 
Euriphon,  Celfius,  Mabamet,  Hercules,  Socrates,  Phj- 
lippo  Strozzi,  Euclides,  and  fome  others  who  have 
been  uncommonly  aQive  in  carrying  forward  the  great 
caufe. 


The  chief  publications  for  giving  us  regular  accounts 
of  the  whole  (befides  the  original  writings)  are^  ^ 

1.  Grojfe  Abficht  des  Illuminaten  Or  dens. 

2.  Nachirages  f'^.J  an  denjelben, 

3.  Wcijliaupt's  iviproved'  Syjlcin, 

4.  Syjlem  des  Ilium.  Ordens  am  dem  Original-Schrif-' 

ten  gczogcn. 

I  may  now  be  permitted  to  make  a  few  refle61ions 
on  the. accounts  already  given  of  this  Order,  which  has 
fo  diiiinflly  concentrated  the  cafual  and  fcattered  ef- 
forts of  its  prompters,  th&  Chevaliers  Bienfaifants,  the 
Philalethes^  and  A'uiis  Reunis  of  France,  and  carried 
on  the  fyftem  of  enlightening  and  reforming  the  world. 

The  great  aim  profeffed  bv  the  Order  is  to  make  7nen 
happy  :  and  the  means  prafelfed  to  be  employed,  as  ih^ 
only  and  furely  effe6live,  is  making  them  good  ;  and 
tliis  is  to  be  brought  about  by  enlightening  the  mind,  and 
freeing  it  from  the  dominion  of  fuperJ}.ition  and  prejudi- 
ces. This  purpofe  is  effected  by  its  producing  a  jiijl 
and  Jleady  morality.  This  done,  and  becoming  uni- 
verfal,  there  can  be  little  doubt  but  that  the  peace  of 
fociety  will  be  the  confequence — that  government,  fub- 
ordination,  and  all-  the  difagr^eable  coercions  of  civil 
governments  will  be  unncceffary — and  that  fociety  may 
go  on  peaceably  in  a  ftate  of  perfecl  liberty  and  equality. 


THE  ILLUMINATT.  i€3^ 

■'  IjiU  furcly  it  requires  no  angel  from  heaven  to  tell  us 
that  if  every  man  is  virtuous,  there  will  be  no  vice  ;  and. 
that  there   will   be   peace  on  earth,  and  good    will  be- 
tween man   and    man,  whatever   be  the   differences  of 
rank  and  fortune  ;  fo  that  Liberty  and   Equality  fcem 
noi  to  be  the  neccffary  confcqucnces  oF  this  juil  Mora-' 
lity,  nor  necelTary  requifrtes  for  this  national  happinefs. 
We  may  queftion,'  therefore,  whether  the  Illumination' 
Vk'hich  makes  this  a  neceffary  condition  is  a  clear  and  a' 
pure  lighi.     It  may  be  a  falfe  glare,  fhowing  the  object 
only  on    onp  fide,  tinged   v.'ith  partial  colours    thrown 
on  it   by  neiglibouring   objet'ts.     We  fee  fo  much  wif- 
dom  in  the  general  plans  of  nature,  that   we  are  apt  to' 
think  that  there  is  the  fame  in  what  relates  to  the  human 
mind,  and  that   the    God   of  nature   accompliii'ies  his' 
plans  in  this  as  well  as  in  other  inilances.      We  are  even" 
<lifpofed  to  think  that  human  nature  would  fuffer  by  it. 
The  rational  nature  of   man  is  not  contented  with  meat 
and  drink,  and  raiment,  and  flielter,  but  is  alfo  pleafed 
^vith  exerting  many  powers  and  faculties,  and  with  gra- 
tifying many  taftes,  which  could  hardly   have  any  exif- 
tence  in   a  iociety    wher-e  all  are  equal.     We  fay  that 
there  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  the  pleafure  arifmg  from 
the  contemplation  of  the  works  of  art — the  pleafure  of 
intellectual  cultivation,  the  pleafure  of  mere  ornament, 
are  rational,  didinguilh    man  from  a    brute,  and  are  fo 
general,  that  there  is  hardly  a    mind  fo    rude  as  not  to 
feel  them.     Of  all  thefe,  and  of  all  the  diihcult  fcicnces, 
all  mod  rational,  and  in  themfelves  mod  innocent,  and 
moil  delightful  to  a  cultivated  mind,  we  fhould  be  de- 
prived in  a  fociety  where  all  are  equal.      No  individual 
-could  give  employm^ent  to  the  talents  necelfary  for  cre- 
ating and  improving  thefe  ornamental   comforts  of  life. 
We  are  abfolutely  certain  that,  even  in  the  moli  favo;- 
able  fiiuations  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  the   moll  un- 


i54  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

tainted  virtue  in  every  bread  could  not  raiie  man  to  that 
degree  of  cultivation  that  is  pofleffed  by  citizens  very 
low  in  any  of  the  ftates  of  Europe  ;  and  in  the  fituation 
of  moft  countries  we  are  acquainted  with,  the  ftate  of 
man  would  be  much  lower  :  for,  at  our  very  letting 
out,  we  mult  grant  that  the  liberty  and  equality  here 
fpoken  of  muft  be  complete  ;  for  there  muft  not  be  fuch 
a  thing  as  a  farmer  and  his  cottager.  This  would  be^ 
as  unjuft,  as  much  the  caufe  of  difcontent,  as  the  gen- 
tleman and  the  farmer. 

This  fcheme  therefore  feems  contrary  to  the  defigns. 
of  our  Creator,  who  has  every  where  placed  us  in  thefc 
fituations  of  inequality  that  are  hejre  fo  much  fcouted, 
and  has  given  us  Itrong  propenfities  by  which  we  relifh 
thefe  enjoyments.  We  alfo  find  that  they  may  be  en- 
joyed in  peace  and  innocence.  And  lailly.  We  ima- 
gine that  the  villain,  who,  in  the  ftation  of  a  profeflbr, 
■would  plunder  a  Prince,  would  alfo  plunder  the  farmer 
if  he  were  his  cottager.  The  illumination  therefore  that 
appears  to  have  the  beft  chance  of  making  mankind 
iiappy,  is  that  which  will  teach  us  the  Morality  which 
"will  refpe£l  the  comforts  of  cultivated  Society,  and  teach 
us  to  prote6t  the  poffelTors  in  the  innocent  enjoyment  of 
them  ;  that  will  enable  us  to  perceive  and  admire  the 
tafte  and  elegance  of  Architecture  and  Gardening,  with- 
out any  wifh  to  fweep  the  gardens  and  their  owner  from 
off  the  earth,  merely  becaufe  he  is  their  owner. 

We  are  therefore  fufpicious  of  this  Illumination,  and 
apt  to  afcribe  this  violent  antipathy  to  Princes  and  lu- 
bordination  to  the  very  caufe  that  makes  true  Ilhnnina- 
tion,  and  jufl  Morality  proceeding  from  it,  fo  neceflary 
to  public  happinefs,  namely,  the  vice  and  injuOice  of 
thofcwho  cannot  innocently  have  the  command  of  thofe 


THE  ILLUMINATE.  165. 

offenii.ve   elegancies  of  human  life.     Luxurious  tafie, 
keen  delires,  and  unbridled  pafEons^  would  prompt  to, 
all  this  ;  and  this  Illumination  is,  as  we  fee,  equivalent 
to  them  in  effeO;.     The  aim  of  the  Order  is   not  to  en-, 
lighten  the  mind  of  man,  and  fhow  him  his  moral  obli- 
gations, and  by  the  praQice  of  his  duties,  to  make  foci- 
ety  peaceable,  poffeffion  fccure,  and  coercion  unnecef- 
fary,  fo  that  all  may  be  at  rett  and  happy,  even  though- 
all  were  equal ;  but  to  get  rid  of  the  coercion  which  mud 
be  employed  in   place  of   Morality,  that  the   innocent 
rich  may  be  robbed  widi  impunity  by  the  idle  and  pro- 
fligate poor.     But  to  do  this,  an  unjuft  cafuiftry   muft 
be  employed  in  place  of  a  juft  Morality  ;  and  this  muft 
be  defended  or  fuggefted,   by   raifreprerenting  the  true 
■  ftate  of  man,  and  of  his  relation  to  the  univerfe,  and  by 
removing  the  reftriBions  of  religion,  and  giving  a  fuper- 
latiVe  value  to  all  thofe   conftituents  of  hunsan  enjoy- 
ment, which  true   Illumination  fiiows  us  to  be  but  very 
fmall  concerns  of  a  rational  and  virtuous  mind.     The 
more  clofely  we  examine  the  principles  and  pra6lice  of 
the  Illuminati,  the    more  clearly  do   we    perceive   that 
this  is  the  cafe.     Their  hrft  and  immediate  aim  is  to  get 
the  poffeflion  of  riches,  power,  and  inQnence,  Mnthou|: 
induftry  ;  and,  to  accomplifli   this,  they   want  to  abo- 
lifh    Chriflianity  ;  a-nd  then   diilolute  manners- and, uni- 
verfal  profligacy  will  procure  them  the  adherence  of  all 
the-wicked,  and   enable  them  to  overturn  all   the  civil 
governments  of  Europe  ;  after  which  they  will  tiunkof 
farther   conquefts,  and  extend  their   operatiou-i  to  the 
other  quarters  of  the  globe,  till  they  have  reduced  man- 
kind to  the  ftate  of  one  undiftinguiiliable  chaotic  niafs. 

But  this  is  too  chimerical  to  be  thought  their  real 
aim.  Their  Founder,  I  dare  fay,  never  entertained 
fuch  hopes,  nor  troubled  hinalelf  with  the  fate  of  diftant 


1.66    .  THE  ILLUMINATT. 

lands.  But  it  comes  in  his  way  when  he  puts  on  the  mafk 
of  humanity  and  benevolence  :  it  muft  embrace  all  man- 
kiiid,  only  becaufe  it  muft  be  ftronger  than  patriotifm 
and  loyalty,  which  ftand  in  his  way.  Obferve  that  Weif- 
haupt  took  a  name  exprefiive  of  his  principles.  Sparta- 
cus  was  a  gladiator,  who  headed  an  infurreftion  of  Ro- 
man flaves,  and  for  three  years  kept  the  city -ii^H:error.' 
Weifhaupt  fays  in  one  of  his  letters,  "  I  never  was  fond 
of  empty  titles  ;  but  furely  that  man  has  a  childifh  foul 
who  would  not  as  readily  chufc  the  name  of  Spartacus 
as  that  of  Oftavius  Auguftus."  The  names  which  he' 
gives  to  feveral  of  his  gang  exprefs  their  differences  of 
f^ntiments.  Philo,  Lucian,  and  others,  are  very  figni- 
ficantly  given  to  Knigge,  Nicholai,  See.  He  was  vain 
of  the  name  Spartacus,  becaufe  he  confidered  bimfelf 
as  employed  fomewhat  in  the  fame  way,  leading  flaves 
to  freedom.  Princes  and  Priefts  are  mentioned  by  him 
on  all  occafions  in  terms  of  abhorrence. 

Spartacus  employs  powerful  means.  In  the  ftyle  of 
the  Jefuits  (as  he  fays)  he  confidcrs  every  mean  as  con- 
fecrated  by  the  end  for  which  it  is  employed,  and  he 
fays  with  great  truth, 

"   Fleclcrcji  7iequcofuperos,  Acheronia  movcbo/'' 

To  fave  his  reputation,  he  fcrnples  not  to  murder  his 
innocent  child,  and  the  woman  whom  he  had  held  in  his 
arms  with  emotions  of  fondnefs  and  affeclion.  But  left 
this  fliould  appear  too  felfifii  a  motive,  he  fays,  "had 
I  fallen,  my  precious  Order  would  have  fallen  with  me*; 
the  Order  which  is  to  blefs  mankind.  I  fnould  not 
ajiain  have  been  able  to  fpeak  'of  virtue  fo  as  to  make 
any  lafting  impreihon.  My  example  might  have  ruined 
many   young  men."     This   he   thinks  v/iil  cxcufcj  nay 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  167 

fanctifj  any  thing.  "  My  letters  are  my  grcateft  vind?- 
cation."  He  employs  the  Chriftian  Religion,  which  he 
thinks  a  fairehood,and  which  he  isafterwards  to  explode, 
as  the  mean  for  inviting  Chriftians  of  every  denominati- 
on, and  gradually  cajoling  them,  by  clearing  up  their 
Chriftian  doubts  in  fucceffion,  till  he  lands  them  in  De- 
•ifm  ;  or,  if  he  finds  them  unfit,  and  too  religious,  he 
gives  them  a  Sta  bene^  and  then  laughs  at  the  fears,  or 
perhaps  madnefs,  in  >vhich  he  leaves  them.  Having  got 
.them  this  length,  they  are  declared  to  be  fit,  and  he  re- 
ceives them  into  the  higher  mylleries.  But  left  they 
fhould  ftill  fhrink  back,  dazzled  by  the  Pandemoniaii 
glare  of  Illumination  which  will  now  burft  upon  them, 
he  exafts  from  them,  for  the  firft  time,  a  bond  of  perfe- 
verance.  But,  as  Philo  fays,  there  is  little  chance  of 
tergiverfation.  The  life  and  honor  of  moft  of  the  can- 
.didates  are  by  this  time  in  his  hand.  They  have  been 
long  occupied  in  tl:ie  vile  and  corrupting  office  of  fpies 
on  all  around  them,  and  they  are  found  fit  for  their  pre- 
fent  honors,  becaufe  they  have  difcharged  this  office  to 
his  fatisfaftion,  by  the  reports  which  they  have  given  in, 
containing  ftories  of  their  neighbours,  nay  even  of  their 
jOwn  gang.  They  may  be  ruined  in  the  world  by  dif- 
clofing  thefe,  either  privately  or  publicly.  A  man  who 
.had  once  brought  hirafelf  into  this  perilous  fitilation  durft 
not  go  back.  He  might  have  been  left  indeed  in  any 
degree  of  Illumination  :  and,  if  Religion  has  not  been 
quite  eradicated  from  his  mind,  he  muft  be  in  that  con- 
dition of  painful  anxiety  and  doubt  that  makes  hira  dcf- 
.pcrate,  fit  for  the  full  operation  of  fanaiicifm,  and  he 
rnay  be  engaged  in  the  caujc  of  God,  ."  to  comniit  ail 
kind  of  wickednefs  with  greedinefs."  In  this  Itate  of 
mind,  a  rnan  fiiuts  his  eyes,  and  ruflies  on.  Had 
.Spartacus  fuppofed  that  he  was  dealing  with  good  men, 
his  conduct  would   have   been   the  leveife  of  all  this,. 


iSS  THE  ILLUMINATL 

There  is  no  occafion  for  this  bond  from  a  perfon  con- 
vhicedofthe  excellency  of  the  Order.  ButhekncW 
thera  to  be  unprincipled,  and  that  the  higher  myfleries 
were  fo  daring,  that  even  fome  of  fuch  men  would  ftart 
at  them.     But  they  mult  not  blab. 

Having  thus  got  rid  of  Religion,  Spartacus  could 
■\vith  more  fafety  bring  into  view  the  great  aim  of  all  his 
efforts — to  rule  the  world  by  means  of  his  Order.  As 
the  immediate  mean  for  attaining  this,  he  holds  out  thb 
pro fpeft  of  freedom  from  civil  fubordination.  Perfeft 
Liberty  and  Equality  are  interwoven  with  every  thing  ; 
•and  the  flattering  thought  is  continually  kept  up,  that 
*'  by  the  wife  contrivance  of  this  Order,  the  moft  com- 
plete knowledge  is  obtained  of  the  real  worth  of  every 
perfon;  the  Order  will,  for  its  own  fake,  and  therefore 
cirtainly,  place  every  man  in  that  fituation  in  which  he 
can  be  moft  effeftive.  The  pupils  are  convinced  that 
the  Order  will  rule  the  world.  Every  member  there- 
fore becomes  a  ruler."  We  all  think  ourfelves  qualified 
to  rule.  The  difficult  taflv  is  to  obey  with  propriety  ; 
but  we  are  honeftly  generous  in  our  profpeBs  of  future 
command.  It  is  therefore  an  alluring  thought,  both  to 
good  and  bad  men.  By  this  lure  the  Order  will  fpread. 
If  they  are  a8ive  in  inlinuating  their  members  into  of- 
fices, and  in  keeping  out  others  (which  the  private  cof- 
refponder.ce  fhows  to  have  been  the  cafe)  they  may  have 
had  frequent  experience  of  their  fuccefs  in  gaining  ah 
miluence  on  the  world.  This  mufl  whet  their  zeal.  If 
^Vei{haupt  was  a  fincere  Cofmo-polite,he  had  the  plea- 
f  uie  of  feeing  "  his  wor4s.  profpering  in  his  hands." 

It  furely  needs  little  argument  now  to  prove,  that 
the  Order  of -Ilkiminati  had  for  its  immediate  objeftthe 
abolifliing  of  Chriilianity  (at  Icaft  this  was  the  intention 


THE  ILLUMINATL  'i^ 

of  the  Founder)  with  the  fole  view  of  overturning  the 
civil  government,  by  introducing  univerfal  diflblutenefs 
and  profligacy  of  manners,  and  then  getting  the  aflift- 
ance  of  the  corrupted  fubjefts  to   overfet   the    throne. 
The  whole  condutl  in  the  preparation  and  inftruftion  of 
the  Preftyter  and  Regens  is  directed  to  this  point.    Phi- 
lo  fays,  "  I  have  been  at  unwearied  pains  to  remove  the 
fears  of  fome  who   imagine  that  our    Superiors  want  to 
abolifh  Chriftianity  ;  but  by  and  by  their  prejudices  will 
-wear  off,  and  they  will  be  more  at  their  eafe.     Were  I 
to  let  them  know  that  our  General  holds  all  Religion  to 
■be  a  lie,  and  ufes  even  Deifm,  only  to   lead  men  by  the 
nofe. — Were    I  to  conned  myfelf  again  with  the  Free 
Mafons,  and  tell  them  our  defigns  to    ruin  their  Frater- 
nity by  this  circular  letter  (a  letterto  the  Lodge  in  Cour- 
land) — Were  I  but  to  give  the   leaft  hint  to  any. of  thfc 
Princes  of  Greece  (Bavaria) — No,  my  anger  fliall  not 
carry  me   fo  far. — An   Order    forfooth,  which   in  this 
manner  abufes  human  nature — which  will   fubje6l  men 
to  a  bondage  more  intolerable  than  Jefuitifm. — I  could 
put  it  on  a  refpeftable  footing,  and  the  world  would  be 
ours.     Should  I   mention  our   fundamental  principles 
(even  after  all  the  pains  I  have  been  at  to  mitigate  them) 
fo  unqueftionably  dangerous   to  the  world,  who  would 
remain  ?  What  lignifies  the  innocent  ceremonies  of  the 
Prieft's  degree,  as  I  have  compofed  it,  in  comparifon 
with  your  maxim,  that  we  may  ufe  for  a  good  end  thofe 
means  which  the  wicked  employ  for  a  bafe  purpofe  ?" 

Brutus  writes,  "  Numenius  now  acquiefces  in  the 
mortality  of  thfe  foul  ;  but,  I  fear  we  fhall  lofe  Ludo- 
vicus  Bavarus.  He  told  Spartacus,  that  he  was  mif- 
taken  when  he  thought  that  he  had  fwallowed  his  ftupid 
Mafonry.     No,  he  faw  the  trick,  and  did  not  admire 


^ij9  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

the  end  that  required  it.  I  don't. know  what  to  do  ;  a 
Sta  bene  would  make  him  mad,  and  he  will  blow  us 
all  up. 

"  The  Order  muft  pofTefs  the  power  of  life  and  death 
in  confequence  of  our  Oath  ;  and  with  propriety,  for 
the  fame  reafon,  and  by  the  fame  right,  that  any  go- 
vernment in  the  world  polfefTes  it :  For  the  Order  comes 
in  their  place,  making  them  unneceffary.  When  things 
cannot  be  otherwife,  and  ruin  would  enfue  if  the  AlTo- 
.ciation  did  not  employ  this  mean,  the  Order  muft,  as 
well  as  public  rulers,  emplow  it  for  the  good  of  man- 
kind; therefore  for  its  own  prefervation.  (  N.  B.  Ob- 
ferve  here  the  cafuiftry.)  Nor  will  the  political  confti- 
tutions  fuffer  by  this,  for  there  are  always  thoufands 
equally  ready  and  able  to  fupply  the  place." 

We  need  not  wonder  that  Diomedes  told  the  Profef- 
fors,  "  that  death,  inevitable  death,  from  which  no  po- 
tentate could  proteft  them,  awaited  every  traitor  of  the 
Order  ;"  n.or  that  the  French  Convention  propofed  to 
take  off  the  German  Princes  and  Generals  by  fword  or 
poifon,  &:c. 

Spartacus  might  tickle  the  fancy  of  his  Order  with 
the  notion  of  ruling  the  world  ;  but  I  imagine  that  his 
darling  aim  v»'as  ruling  the  Order.  The  happinefs  of 
mankind  was,  like  Weifiiaupt's  Chriftianity,  a  mere  tool, 
a  tool  which  the  Regentes  made  a  joke  of.  But  Spar- 
tacus would  rule  the  Regentes  ;  this  he  could  not  fo  ea- 
lily  accomphfh.  His  defpotifm  was  infupportable  to 
nioft  of  them,  and  finally  brought  all  to  light.  When 
he  could  not  perfuade  them  by  his  own  firmnefs,  and  in- 
deed by  his  fuperior  wiidom  and  difmtereitedncfs  in 
other  refpefts.  and  his  unwearied  adivity,  he  employed 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  171 

jcfuitical  tricks,  caufing  them  to  fall  out  with  each  other, 
fetting  them  as  fpies  on  each  other,  and  feparating  any 
two  that  he  faw  attached  to  each  other,  by  making  the 
one  a  Mafter  of  the  other  ;  and,  in  fhort,  he  left  nothing 
undone  that  could  fecure  his  uncontrouled  command. 
This  can  fed  Philo  to  quit  the  Order,  and  made  Bajfm^ 
Von  Torring^  Kreitmaier,  and  feveral  other  gentlemen, 
ceafe  attending  the  meetings  ;  and  it  was  their  mutual 
diffentions  which  made  them  fpeak  too  freely  in  public, 
and  call  on  themfelves  fo  much  notice.  At  the  time  of 
the  difcovery,  the  party  of  Weifhaupt  confided  chiefly 
of  very  mean  people,  devoted  to  him,  and  willing  to  ex- 
-ecute  his  orders,  that  by  being  his  fervants,  they  might 
have  the  pleafure  of  commanding  others. 

The  ohjeBs,  the  undoubted  obje6ls  of  this  AfTociati- 
on,  are  furcly  dangerous  and  deteftable  ;  viz.  to  over- 
turn the  prefent  conflitutions  of  the  European  States,-  in 
order  to  introduce  a  chimera  which  the  hiftory  of  man- 
kind fliows  to  be  contrary  to  the  nature  of  man.  * 

Naiuram  expcllasjurcd^  tamen  ufquc  recur  ret.        ' 

Suppofe  it  pofhble,  and  done  in  peace,  it  could  not 
ftand,  unlefs  every  principle  of  afctivity  in  the  human 
mind  be  enthralled,  all  incitement  to  exertion  and  induf- 
try  removed,  and  man  brought  into  a  condition  incapa- 
ble of  improvement ;  and  this  at  the  expence  of  every 
thing  that  is  valued  by  the  beft  of  men — by  mifcry  and 
devaflution — by  loofening  all  the  bands  of  fociety.  To 
talk  of  morality  and  virtue  in  conjun6lion  with  fuch 
Tchemes,  is  an  infult  to  common  fenfe  ;  diflolut-nefs  of 
manners  alone  can  brin?  men  to  think  of  it. 


47* 


THE  ILLUMINATI. 


Is  it  not  aftonifhing  therefore,  to  hear  people  hi  this 
country  exprefs  any  regard  for  this  inititution  ?  Is  it 
not  grieving  to  the  heart  to  think  that  there  are  Lodges 
of  Illunminated  among  us  ?  I  think  that  nothing  bids 
fairer  for  weaning  our  inconfiderate  countrymen  from 
having  any  connexion  with  them,  than  the  faithful  ac- 
count here  given.  I  hope  that  there  are  few,  very  few 
of  our  countrymen,  and  none  whom  we  call  friend,  who 
can  think  that  an  Order  which  pra6lifed  fuch  things  can 
be  any  thing  ejfe  than  a  ruinous  AfTociation,  a  gang  of 
profligates.  All  their  profeffions  of  the  love  of  man- 
kind are  vain  ;  nay,  their  Illumination  rnufl:  be  a  be- 
wildering blaze,  and  totally  ineffe6lual  for  its  purpofe, 
for  it  has  had.no  fach  influence  on  the  leaders  of  the 
band ;  yet  it  feems  quite  adequate  to  the  efiPefts  it  has 
produced  ;  for  fuch  are  the  charaBers  of  thofe  who  for- 
get God. 

If  we  in  the  next  place  attend  to  their  mode  of  edu- 
cation, and  examine  it  by  thofe  rulers  of  common  fenfe 
that  we  apply  in  other  cafes  of  condu6t,  we  fliall  find  it 
equally  unpromifing.  The  fyftem  of  Illuminatifm  is 
one  of  the  explanations  of  Free  Mafonry  ;  and  it  has 
gained  many  partifans.  Thefe  explanations  reft  their 
credit  and  their  preference  on  their  own  merits.  There 
is  fomething  in  thernfelves,  or  in  one  of  them  as  diilin- 
guiflied  from  another,  which  procures  it  the  preference 
for  its  own  fake.  Therefore,  to  "  give  this  Order  any 
dependence  on  Free  Mafonry,  is  to  degrade  the  Order. 
To  introduce  a  Mafonic  Ritual  into  a  manly  inilitution 
is  to  degrade  it  to  a  frivolous  amufement  for  great  chil- 
dren. Men  really  exerting  thernfelves  to  reform  the 
world,  antj  qualified  for  the  tafl;,  muft  have  been  dif- 
gulted  with  fuch  occupations.  They  betray  a  frivolous 
conception  of  the  tafl<.  in  which  they  are  really  engaged. 


THE  ILLUiMINATl.  173 

To  iihagine  that  men  engaged  in  the  ftruggle  and  rival- 
fhip  of  life,  under  the  iniluence  of  fehlfli,  or  mean,    or 
impetuous  paifions,  are  to  be  wheedled  into  candid  fea- 
timents,  or  a  generous  conduft,  as  a  fi-oward  child  may 
fometimes  be   made  gentle  and  trafctable  by  a  rattle  or  ^ 
humming-top,  betrays  a  great  ignorance  of  human  na- 
ture, and  an  arrogant  felf-conceit  in  thofe  who  can  ima- 
gine that  all  but  thcmfelves  are  babies.     The  further  we 
proceed,  the   more  do  v/e  fee  of  this  want  of  xvifdom. 
The  whole  procedure  of  their  inftrntiion  luppofes  fuch 
a  complete  furrender  of  freedom  of  thought,  of  com.moii 
knk^  and  of  common  caution,  that  it  feems  impoffible 
•that  it   fhould  not  have   alarmed  every    fcnlible  mind. 
This  indeed  happened  before  the  Order  was  feven  years 
old.      It  was  wife  indeed  to  keep  their    Areopagitx  ont 
of  fight ;  but  who  can  be  fo  fdiy  as  to  believe  that  their 
.unknown  fuperiors  were  all   and  always  faultlefs  men. 
But  had  they  been  the  men  they  were  repreiented   to  be 
• — if  I  have  any  knowledge  of  my  own  heart,  or  any  ca- 
pacity of  drawing  juft  inferences   from   the  condu6l  of 
others,   I   am  perfuaded   that  the  knowing  his  fuperiors 
would  have  animated  the  pupil  to  exertion,  that  he  might 
exhibit  a  pleahng  fpeclacle  to   fuch  intelligent  and  wor- 
thy judges.     Did  not  the    Stoics   profefs  themfelves  to 
be  encouraged    in  the  fcheme  of  life,  by   the  thought 
that  the  immortal    Gods    were  looking  on  and  paffing 
-their  judgments  on  their  manner  of  atting   the  part  af- 
figned  them  ?  But  what   abjefct  fpirit  will   be  contented 
with    working,   zealoufly   working,    for    years,  after  a 
plan  of  which  he  is  never  to  learn  the  full  meaning.     In 
fhort,  the  only  knowledge  that  he  can  perceive  is  know- 
ledge in  its  word  form,   Cunning.     Thismufl  appear  in 
the  contrivances    by  which   he  will  foon  find  that  lie  is 
kept  in  complete  fubjettion.      If  he  is   a  true  and  zea- 
lous Brother,  he  has  put  hanfelf  in  the  power  of  his  Su- 


174  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

periors  by  his  refcripts,  which  they  required  of  him  oti 
pretence  of  their  learning  his  own  chara6ler,  and  of  his 
iearning  how  to  know  the  characters  of  other  men.  In 
thefe  refcripts  they  have  got  his  thoughts  on  many  deh- 
cate  points,  and  on  the  conducl  of  others.  His  Direc- 
tors may  ruin  him  by  betraying  him  ;  and  this  without 
being  feen  in  it.  I  fliould  think  that  wife  men  would 
know  (hat  none  but  weak  -or  bad  men  would  fubjed 
•themfelves  to  fuch  a  talk.  They  exclude  the  good,  the 
manly,  the  only  fit  perfons  for  affifting  them  in  their  en- 
deavours to  inform  and  to  rule  the  world.  Indeed  I 
may  fay  that  this  exclufion  is  almoft  made  already  by 
connecting  the  Order  with  Free  Mafonry.  Lodges  are 
not  the  reforts  of  fuch  men.  They  may  fometimes  be 
found  there  for  an  hour's  relaxation.  But  thefe  places 
are  the  haunts  of  the  young,  the  thoughtlefs,  the  idle, 
the  weak,  the  vain,  or  of  dehgning  Literati ;  and  ac- 
cordingly this  is  the  condition  of  three-fourths  of  the  II- 
iuminati  whofe  names  are  known  to  the  public.  I  own 
that  the  reafons  given  to  the  pupil  for  prefcribing  thefe 
taflvs  are  clever,  and  well  adapted  to  produce  their  ef- 
fcft.  During  the  flurry  of  reception,  and  the  glow  of 
expeftation,  the  danger  may  not  be  fufpetled  ;  but  I 
hardlv  imadnc  that  it  will  remain  unperceived  when  the 
pupil  fits  down  to  write  his  firftleffon.  Mafon  Lodges, 
however,  were  the  mofl  likely  places  for  finding  and 
enliiling  members.  Young  men,  warmed  by  declama- 
tions teeming  with  the  flimfy  moral  cant  of  Cofmo-po- 
liiifm,  are  in  the  proper  frame  of  mind  for  this  Illumi- 
nation. It  nov.'  appears  alio,  that  the  diffentions  in 
P>ee  Mafonry  mufl  have  had  great  influence  in  promot- 
ing this  fcheme  of  Weiihaupt's,  which  was,  in  many 
particulars,  fo  unpromiflng,  becaufe  it  prefuppofes  fuch 
a  degradation  of  the  ir-ind.  But  when  the  fchilmatics  in 
Mafonry  difputed  with  warmth,  trifles  cume  to  acquire 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  175 

unfpeakable  importance.  The  hankering  after  wonder 
-was  not  in  the  lead  abated  by  all  the  tricks  which  had 
been  detefted,  and  the  impoffibility  of  the  wifiied-for 
difcovcry  had  never  been  demonftrated  to  perfons  pre- 
pofrefTed  in  its  favor.  They  itill  choje  to  believe  that 
the  fymbols  contained  fome. important  fecret;  and  hap- 
py will  be  the  man  who  finds  it  out.  The  more  frivo- 
lous the  fymbols,  the  more  does  the  heart  cling  to  the 
myllery  ;  and,  to  a  mind  in  this  anxious  ftate,  Weif- 
haupt's  proffer  was  enticing.  He  laid  before  them  a 
fcheme  which  was  fomewhat  feafible,  was  magnificent, 
furpafling  our  conceptions,  but  at  the  fame  time  fuch  as 
permitted  us  to  expatiate  on  the  fubjecl,  and  even  to 
amplify  it  at  pleafure  in  our  imaginations  without  abfur- 
dity.  It  does  not  appear  to  me  wonderful,  therefore, 
that  fo  many  were  fafcinated  till  they  became  at  laft  re- 
gardlefs  of  the  abfurdity  and  inconliltency  of  the  means 
by  which  this  fplendid  objetl  was  to  be  attained.  Heay 
.what  Spartacus  himfelf  fays  of  hidden  myfteries.  "  Of 
all  the  means  I  know  to  lead  men,  the  mod  effectual  is 
a  concealed  myftery.  The  hankering  of  the  mind  is  ir- 
•reliltible  ;  and  if  once  a  man  has  taken  it  into  his  head 
that  there  is  a  myftery  in  a  thing,  it  is  impoiTible  to  get 
■it  out,  either  by  argument  or  experience.  And  then, 
we  can  fo  change  notions  by  merely  changing  a  woid. 
What  more  contemptible  than  Janaticifm  ;  but  call  it 
.cnthujiafm  ;  then  add  the  little  word  7iohle^  and  you 
may  lead  him  over  the  world.  Nor  are  we,  in  thefe 
bright  day 8,  a  bit  better  than  our  fathers,  who  found 
the  pardon  of  their  fins  myfieriouOy  contained  in  a  much 
greater  fin,  viz.  leaving  their  family,  and  going  bare- 
footed to  Rome." 

Such  being   the  employment,   and  fuch  the  difciples, 
fiiould   we  expert  the  fruits  to  be  very  precious  ?  No. 


176  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

The  doflrines  which  were  gradually  unfolded  were  fuch 
as  fuited  thofe  who  continued  in  the  Curfus  Academiats, 
Thofe  who  did  not,  becaule  they  did  not  like  them,  got 
a  Std  bene  ;  they  were  not  fit  for  advancements.  The 
numbers  however  were  great ;  Spartacus  boafted  of  600 
m  Bavarja  alone  in  1783.  We  don't  know  many  of 
them  ;  few  of  thofe  we  know  were  in  the  upper  ranks 
of  life  ;  and  I  can  fee  that  it  required  much  wheedling, 
and  many  letters  of  long  worded  German  compliments 
from  the  proud  Spartacus,  to  win  even  a  young  Baron 
or  a  Graf  juft  come  of  age.  Men  in  an  eafy  fituation 
in  life  could  not  brook  the  employment  of  afpy,  which 
is  bafe,  cowardly,  and  corrupting,  and  has  in  all  ages 
and  countries  degraded  the  perfon  who  engages  in  it#> 
Can  the  perfon  be  called  wife  who  thus  enllaves  himfelf? 
Such  perfonsgive  up  the  right  of  private  judgment,  and 
rely  on  their  unknown  Superiors  with  the  blinded  and 
moft  abjecl  confidence.  P\ir  their  fakes,  and  to  rivet 
ftill  fafter  their  own  fetters,  they  engage  in  the  mofl  cor- 
rupting of  all  employments — and  for  what  ? — To  learn 
fnmething  more  of  an  order,  of  which  every  degree  ex- 
plodes the  doQrine  of  a  former  one.  Would  it  have 
hurt  the  young  Illuminatus  to  have  it  explained  to  him 
all  at  once  ?  Would  nol  this  fire  his  mind — when  he  fees 
widi  the  fame  glance  the  great  objeft,  and  the  fiinefs  of 
the  means  for  attaining  it  ?  Would  not  the  exalted  cha- 
raclers  of  the  Superior,  fo  much  excelling  himfelf  in  ta- 
lents, and  virtue,  and  happinefs  (otherwife  the  Order  is 
good  for  nothing)  warm  his  heart,  and  fill  him  with  emu- 
lation, fince  he  fees  in  them,  that  what  is  fo  ftrongly 
preached  to  him  is  an  attainable  thing  ?  No,  no — it  is 
all  a  trick  ;  he  mufl:  be  kept  hke  a  child,  amufcd  with 
rattles,  and  flars,  and  ribands — and  all  tlic  fatisfatlion  he 
obtains  is,  like  the  Mafons.  the  fun  of  feeing  others  run- 
ning the  famc.gauiujct. 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  177 

'■  \Veifiiaiipt  acknowledges  that  the  great  influerAce  of 
tlie  Order  may  be  abufed.  Surely,  in  no  way  fo  eafily 
or  fo  fatally  as  by  corrupting  or  fedu6live  leflbns  in  the 
beginning.  The  miftake  or  error  of  the  pupil  is  undif- 
coverable  bv  himfelf  (according  to  the  genuine  princi- 
ples of  Illumination)  for  the  pupil  mull  believe  his 
Mentor  to  be  infallible — with  him  alone  he  is  connefted 
>" — his  leffons  only  muft  he  learn.  Who  can  tell  him 
that  he  has  gone  wrong— or  who  can  fet  him  right  ?  yet 
he  certainly  may  be  mifled. 

Here,  therefore,  there  is  confufion  and  deficiency* 
There  mufl:  be  fome  ftandard  to  which  appeal  can  be 
made  ;  but  thi's  is  inacceflible  to  all  within  the  pale  of 
the  Order;  it  is  therefore  without  this  pale,  and  inde- 
pendent of  the  Order — and  it  is  attainable  only  by  aban- 
doning the  Order.  The  Quibus  Licet,  the  Primo, 
the  Soli,  can  procure  no  light  to  the  perfon  who  does 
not  know  that  he  has  been  led  out  of  the  right  road  to 
virtue  and  happinefs.  The  Superiors  indeed  draw  much 
ufeful  information  from  thefe  reports,  though  they  af- 
feft  to  ftand  in  no  need  of  it,  and  they  make  a  cruel 
return. 

All  this  is  fo  much  out  of  the  natural  road  of  inflrudi- 
on,  that,  on  this  account  alone,  we  may  prefume  that  it. 
is  wrong.  We  are  generally  fafe  when  we  follow  na- 
ture's plans.  A  child  learns  in  his  father's  houfe,  by 
feeing,  and  by  imitating,  and  in  common  domeflic  educa- 
tion,he  gets  much  ufeful  knowledge,  and  the  chief  habits 
which  are  afterwards  to  regulate  his  conduft.  Example 
does  almoft  every  thing  ;  and,  with  refped  to  what  may 
be  called  living,  as  diftinguifhable  from  profelTion,  fpe- 
culation  and   argumentative  in{lru6iion  are  feldom  em- 


*78  THE  ILLUMINATJ; 

ployed,  or  of  any  ufe.  The  indifpenfablenefs  of  mutuaJ 
forbearance  and  obedience,  for  domeftic  peace  and  hap- 
pinefs,  foims  moll  of  thefe  habits ;  and  the  child,  under 
good  parents,  is  kept  in  a  fituation  that  makes  virtue  ea- 
lier  than  vice,  and  he  becomes  wife  and  good  without 
any  exprefs  ftudy  about  the  matter. 

But  this  Illumination  plan  is  darknefs  over  all — it  is 
too  artificial- — and  the  topics,  fi'om  which  counfel  is  to 
be  drawn,  cannot  be  taken  from  the  peculiar  views  of 
the  Order — for  thefe  are  yet  a  fecret  for  the  pupil — .and 
muft  ever  be  a  fecret  for  him  while  under  tuition.  They 
mud  therefore  be  drawn  from  common  fources,  and  the- 
Order  is  of  no  ufe  ;  all  that  can  naturally  be  effeduated. 
by  this  Aflbciation  is  the  forming,  and  aiTiduoufly  fof- 
tering  a  narrow,  Jewifli,  corporation  fpirit,  totally  op- 
pofite  to  the  benevolent  pretenfions  of  the  Order.  The 
pupil  can  fee  nothing  but  this,  that  there  is  a  fet  of  men> 
whom  he  does  not  know,  who  may  acquire  incontroula- 
ble  power,  and  may  peihaps  make  ufe  of  him,  but  for 
what  purpofe,  and  in  what  way,  he  does  not  know  ;  how 
can  he  know  that  his  endeavours  are  to  make  man  hap^ 
pier,  any  other  way  than  as  he  might  have  known  it 
without  having  put  this  collar  round  his  own  neck  ? 

Thefe  reflections  addrefs  themfelves  to  all  men  who 
profefs  to  conduft  themfelves  by  the  principles  and  dic- 
tates of  common  fenfe  and  prudence,  and  who  have  the 
ordinary  iliare  of  candour  and  good  will  to  others.  It 
requires  no  fmgular  fenlibility  of  heart,  nor  great  gene- 
rolity,  to  make  fuch  people  think  the  doctrines  and 
views  of  the  lUuminati  falfe,  abfurd,  foolifli,  and  ruin- 
ous. But  I  hope  that  I  addrefs  them  to  thoufands  of 
my  countrymen  and  friends,  who  have  much  higher  no- 
tions of  human  nature,   and  who   chcrifh  with  care  .die 


THE  ILLUAIINATT;  V]^ 

^rffeQions  and  the  hopes  that  are  fuited  to  a  rational,  a 
benevolent,  and  a  high-minded  being,  capable  of  endlefs 
improvement. 

To  thofe  who  enjoy  the  cheering  confidence  in  the 
fbperin tendance  and  providence  of  God,  who  conlider 
thcmfelves  as  creatures  whom  he  has  made,  and  whorrt 
he  cares  for,  as  the  fubjefts  of  his  moral  government, 
this  Order  mud  appear  with  every  character  of  falfe- 
hood  and  abfurdity  on  its  countenance.  What  cam 
BE  MORE  IMPROBABLE  than  this,  tbat  He,  whom  we 
Jook  up  to  as  the  contriver,  the  maker,  and  dire£lor,  of 
this  goodly  frame  of  things,  fhould  have  fo  far  miftaken 
his  own  plans,  that  this  world  of  rational  creatures  fhould 
have  fubfifted  for  thoufands  of  years,  before  a  way 
could  be  found  out,  by  which  his  intention  of  making 
men  good  and  happy  could  be  accomplifhed  ;  and  that 
this  method  did  not  occur  to  the  great  Artift  himfelf, 
nor  even  to  the  wifeft,  and  happieft,  and  beft  men  upon 
earth  ;  but  to  a  few  perfons  at  Munich  in  Bavaria,  who 
had  been  trying  to  raife  ghofts,  to  change  lead  into  gold, 
to  tell  fortunes,  or  difcover  treafures,  but  had  failed  in 
all  their  attempts  ;  men  who  had  been  engaged  for  years 
in  every  whim  which  charad^rifes  a  weak,  a  greedy,  or 
a  gloomy  mind.  Finding  all  thefe  beyond  their  reach, 
they  combined  their  powers,  and,  at  once,  found  out 
this  infinitely  more  important  secret — for  fecret  it 
muft  ftill  be,  otherwife  not  only  the  Deity,  biit  even 
thofe  philofophers,  will  Hill  be  difappointod. 

Yet  this  is  the  doBrine  that  mufl  be  fwalTowcd  by  the 
Minervals  and  the  Illimiinati  Minorcs,  to  wlioin  it  is  not 
yet  fafe  to  difclofe  the  grand  fecret,  that  there  is  no  fuck 
juperintendance  of  Deity.  At  laft,  however,  when  the 
pupil  has  conceived  fuch  exalted  notions  of  the  knu'<v'- 


iSd  THE  ILLUMINATE 

ledge  of  his  teachers,  and  fuch  low  notions  of  the  blun- 
dering projeftor  of  this  world,  it  may  be  no  difficult 
matter  to  perfaade  him  that  all  his  former  notions  were 
only  old  wives  tales.  By  this  time  he  muft  have  heard 
much  about  fuperftition,  and  how  mens  minds  have  been 
dazzled  by  this  fplendid  pidure  of  a  Providence  and  a 
moral  government  of  the  univerfe.  It  now  appears  in- 
compatible with  the  great  objeft  of  the  Order,  the  prin- 
ciples of  univerfal  liberty  and  equality — it  is  therefore 
rejeded  without  farther  examination,  for  this  reafoa 
alone.  This  was  precifeiy  the  argument  ufed  in  France 
for  rejeding  revealed  religion..  It  was  incompatible 
with  their  Rights  of  Man* 

It  is  richly  worth  obferving  how  this  principle  can 
warp  the  judgment,  and  give  quite  another  appearance 
to  the  fame  object.  Tiie  reader  will  not  be  difpleaXed 
with  a  moft  remarkable  inftance  of  it,  which  I,  beg  leave 
to  give  at  length.. 

Our  immortal  Newton,  whom  the  philofophers  of 
Europe  look  up  to  as  the  honor  of  our  fpecies,  whom 
even  Mr.  Bailly,  the  Prefidcnt  of  the  National  AfTeni- 
bly  of  France,  and  Mayor  of  Paris,  cannot  find  words 
fufiiciently  energetic  to  praife  ;  this  patient,,  fagacious, 
and  fuccefsful  obferver  of  nature,  after  having  exhibited 
to  the  wondering  world  the  characleriftic  property  of 
that  principle  of  m.aterial  nature  by  which  all  the  bodies 
of  the  folar  fyllem  are  made  to  form  a  conne(B:ed  and 
permanent  univerfe  ;  and  after  having  lliown  that  this 
law  of  aftion  alone  was  adapted  to  this  end,  and  that  if 
gravity  had  deviated  but  one  thoufandth  part  from  th« 
inverfe  duplicate  ratio  of  the  dillances,  the  fyllem  muft^ 
in  the  courfe  of  a  very  few  revolutions,  have  gone  into 
confufion  and  ruin — he  fits  down,  and  views  the  goodly 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  181 

fcene — and  then  clofes  his   Principles  of  Natural  Philo- 
fophy  with  this  refleQ.ion  (his  Scholium  gener ale.) 

"  This  moft  elegant  frame  of  things  could  not  have 
arifen,  unlefs  by  the  contrivance  and  the  direflion  of  a 
wife  and  powerful  Being  ;  and  if  the  fixed  ftars  are  the 
centres  of  fyftems,  thefe  fyftems  muft  be  fimilar  j  and 
all  thefe,  conllrufted  according  to  the  fame  plan,  are  i'ub- 
jecl  to  the  government  of  one  Being.  All  thefe  he  go- 
verns, not  as  the  foul  of  the  world,  but  as  the  Lord  of 
all  ;  therefore,  on  account  of  his  government,  he  is  cal- 
led the  Lord  God — Pantokrator  ;  for  God  is  a  relative 
term,  and  refers  to  fubjecls.  Deity  is  God's  govern- 
ment, not  of  his  own  body,  as  thofe  think  who  conhcler 
him  as  the  foul  of  the  world,  but  of  his  fervants.  The 
fupreme  God  is  a  Being  eternal,  infinite,  abfolutely  per- 
fe6;.  But  a  being,  however  perfect,  v.ithout  govern- 
ment, is  not  God  ;  for  we  fay,  my  Go^, your  God,  the 
God  of  Ifrael.  We  cannot  fay  my  eternal,  my  infinite. 
We  may  have  fome  notions  indeed  of  his  attributes,  but 
can  have  none  of  his  nature.  With  relpeO:  to  bodies, 
Vv^e  fee  only  fhapes  and  colour — hear  only  founds — 
touch  only  furfaces.  Thefe  are  attributes  of  bodies  ; 
but  of  their  eifence  we  know  nothing.  As  a  blind  man 
can  form  no  notion  of  colours,  we  can  form  none  of  the 
manner  in  which  God  perceives,  and  underftands,  and 
.influences  every  thing, 

"  Therefore  we  know  God  only  by  his  attributes. 
What  are  thefe  ?  The  wife  and  excellent  contrivance, 
ftrufture,  and  final  aim  of  all  things.  In  thefe  his  per- 
fections wc  admire  him,  and  we  wonder.  In  his  direc- 
tion or  government,  we  venerate  and  worfhip  him — we 
worfhip  him  as  his  fervants  ;  and  God,  without  domi- 
nion, without  providence,  and  final  aims,  is  Fate — not 


1»2 


THE  ILLUMINATT. 


the  object  either  of  reverence,  of  hope,  of  lovC)  or  of 

fear." 

Butmark  the  emotions  which  alFefted  the  mind  of  ano- 
ther excellent  obferver  of  Nature,  the  admirer  of  New- 
ton, and  the  perfon  who  has  put  the  finifhing  ftroke  to 
the  Newtonian  philofophy,  by  fhowing  that  the  accele- 
ration of  the  moon's  mean  motion,  is  the  genuine  refult 
of  a  gravatation  decreafing  in  the  precife  duplicate  ratio 
of  the  diftance  inverfely  ;  I  mean  Mr.  Delaplace,  one 
of  the  moft  brilliant  ornaments  of  the  French  academy 
cf  Cciences.  He  hat,  lately  publifhed  the  Syjleme  dii 
Monde  a  moft  beautiful  compend  of  aftronomy  and  of 
the  Newtonian  philofophy.  Having  finifhed  his  work 
with  the  fame  obfervation,  "  That  a  gravitation  inverfe- 
ly proportional  to  the  fquares  of  the  diltances  was  the 
■only  principle  which  could  unite  material  Nature  into 
a  permanent  fyftem  }"  he  alfo  fits  down — furveys  the 
fccne — points  out  the  parts  which  he  had  brought  with- 
in our  ken — and  then  miakes  this  refletiion  :  "  Beheld 
in  its  totality,  aftronomy  is  the  nobleft  monument  of  the 
human  mind,  its  chief  title  to  intelligence.  But,  feduced 
by  the  illulions  of  fenfe,  and  by  felf  conceit,  we  have 
long  confidered  ourfelves  as  the  centre  of  thefe  moti- 
ons ;  and  our  pride  has  been  puniflied  by  the  groundlefs 
fears  which  we  have  created  to  ourfelves.  We  imagine, 
forfooth,  that  all  this  is  for  us,  and  that:  the  ftars  inilu- 
€.nzQ.  our  deftinies  !  But  the  labours  of  ages  have  con- 
vinced us  of  oar  error,  and  we  find  ourfelves  on  an  in- 
fignificant  planet,  almoft  impereeptible  in  the  im^menlity 
offpace.  But  the  fuhlime  difcoveries  we  have  made 
richly  repay  this  humble  fituation.  Let  us  cherifli  thefe 
with  care,  as  the  delight  of  thinking  beings — they  have 
deftroyed  our  miftakes  as  to  our  relation  to  the  reft  of 
the  univerfe;  errors  which  were  the  more  fatal,  be£au& 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  183 

the  focial  Order  depends  on  juftice  and  truth  alon^  Far 
be  from  us  the  dangerous  maxim,  that  it  is  foraetimes 
ufeful  to  depart  from  thefe,  and  to  deceive  men,  in  order 
to  infure  their  happinefs  ;  but  cruel  experience  has 
fhewn  u»s  that  thefe  laws  are  never  totally  extin6l." 

.  There  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  meaning  of  thefe  laft. 
words — they  cannot  relate  to  aftrology — this  was  entire- 
ly out  of  date.  The  "  attempts^  to  deceive  men,  in  or- 
der to  infure  their  happinefs,"  can  only  be  thofe  by 
which  we  are  made  to  think  too  highly  of  ourfelves. 
"  Inhabitants  of  this  pepper-corn,  we  think  ourfelves 
the  peculiar  favorites  of  Heaven,  nay,  the  chief  objeds 
of  care  to  a  Being,  the  Maker  of  all  ;  and  then  we  ima- 
gine that,  after  this  life,  we  are  to  be  happy  or  mifera- 
ble,  according  as  we  accede  or  not  to  this  fjbjugation  to 
opinions  which  enfiave  us.  But  truth  and  juitice  have 
broken  thefe  bonds." — But  where  is  the  force  of  the  ar- 
gument which  entitles  this  perfecler  of  the  Newtonian 
philofophy  to  exult  fo  much  ?  It  all  rells  on  this.  That 
this  earth  is  but  as  a  grain  of  muflard-feed.  Man  would 
be  more  worth  attention  had  he  inhabited  Jupiter  or  the 
Sun.  Thus  may  a  Frenchman  look  down  on  the  jioble 
creatures  who  inhabit  Orolong  or  Pelew.  But  whence, 
arifes  the  abfurdity  of  the  intelletlual  inhabitants  of  this 
pepper-corn  being  a  proper  objeB;  of  attention  ?  it  is 
becaufe  our  fliallow  comprehenfions  cannot,  at  the  fame 
glance,  fee  an  exteniive  fcene,  and  perceive  its  mofr  mi- 
nute detail. 

David,  a  King,  and  a  foldier  bad  fome  nc-Llons  cf  this 
kind.  The  heavens,  it  is  true,  pointed  Out  to  him  a 
Maker  and  Ruler,  which  is  more  than  they  fecm  to  have 
done  to  the  Gallic  philofopher  ;  but  David  was  afraid 
that  he  would  be  forgotten  in  the  crowd,  and  cries  out. 


j84  THE  ILLUMINATf. 

"  Lord  !  what  is  man,  that  thou  art  mindful  of  him  ?'* 
But  David  gets  rid  of  his  fears,  not  by  becoming  a  phi^ 
lofopher,  and  difcovering  all  this  to  be  abfurd — he 
would  ftill  be  forgotten — he  at  once  thinks  of  what  he  is 
— a  noble  creature — high  in  the  fcale  of  nature.  "  But," 
fays  he,  "  1  had  forgotten  myfelf.  Thou  haft  made 
inan  but  a  little  lower  than  the  angels— thou  haft  crown- 
ed him  with  glory  and  honor — thou  haft  put  all  things 
under  his  feet."  Here  are  exalted  fentiments,  fit  for  the 
creature  whofe  ken  pierces  through  the  immenfity  of  the 
vifible  univerfe,  and  who  fees  his  relation  to  the  uni- 
verfe,  being  nearlv  allied  to  its  Sovereign,  and  caoablef 
of  rifmg  continually  in  his  rank,  by  cultivating  thofe  ta- 
lents which  diftinguifti  and  adorn  it. 

Thoufands,  I  truft,  there  are,  who  think  that  this  life 
is  but  a  preparation  for  another,  in  which  the  mind  of' 
man  will  have  the  whole  wonders  of  creation  and  of  pro- 
vidence laid  open  to  its  enraptured  view,  where  it  will 
fee  and  comprehend  with  one  glance  what  Newton,  the 
moft  patient  and  fuccefsful  of  all  the  obfervers  of  na- 
ture, took  years  of  meditation  to  find  out — where  it  will 
attain  that  pitch  of  wifdom,  goodnefs,  and  enjoym^ent, 
of  whicli  our  confciences  tell  us  we  are  capable,  tho'  it 
far  furpaifes  that  of  the  wifeft,  the  beft,  and  the  happieft 
of  men.  Such  perfons  will  confider  this  Order  as  de- 
grading and  deteftable,  and  as  in  dire8;  oppofitibn  to 
their  moft  confident  expetlatioiis  :  For  it  pretends  to 
•what  is  impofiible,  to  perfe6c  peace  and  happinefs  in  this 
life.  They  believe,  and  they  feel,  that  man  muft  be 
made  perfeft  through  fufFerings,  which  ihall  call  into  ac- 
tion powers  of  mind  that  otherwife  w'ould  never  have 
imfold-ed  them.felves— powers  which  are  frequently  four- 
ces  of  the  pureft  and  moft  foodiing  pleafures,  and  natur- 
ally make  us  rc^  our  eyes  and  hopes  on  that  ftate  where 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  i% 

■*:very  tear  fliall  we  wiped  away,  and  where  the  kind  af- 
fetlions  (liall  become  the  never-failing  fourcesof  pure 
and  unfading  delight.  Such  perfons  fee  the  palpable  ab- 
furdity  of  a  preparation  which  is  equally  neceffary  for 
all,  and  yet  muft  be  confined  to  the  minds  of  a  few, 
who  have  the  low  and  indelicate  appetite  for  frivolous 
play -things,  and  for  grofs  fenfual  pleafures.  Such  minds 
will  turn  away  from  this  boailed  treat  with  loathing  and 
abhorrerlce. 

I  am  well  aware  that  fome  of  my  feaders  rtlay  fmile 
at  this,  and  think  it  an  enthufiaftical  working  up  of  the 
imagination,  fimilar  to  what  I  reprobate  in  the  cafe  of 
Utopian  happinefs  in  a  ftate  of  univerfal  Liberty  and 
Equality.  It  is  like,  they  will  fay,  to  the  declamation 
?n  a  fermbti  by  perfons  of  the  trade,  who  are  trained  up 
to  fineffe,  by  which  they  allure  and  tickle  weak  minds. 

I  acknowledge,  that  in  the  prefent  cafe,  I  do  not  ad- 
drefs  myfelf  to  the  cold  hearts,  who  contentedly 

*'  Sink  andftumher  in  their  ceils  of  day  ;" 

■         Peace  to  all    fuch  ;•- but  to  the  felires  aniirKt). 

Gicibus  hare  cogrtofcere  cura  ;" — to  thofe  who  have  enjoy- 
ed the  pleafures  of  fcience,  who  have  been  fuccefsful — ■ 
who  have  made  difcoveries — who  have  really  illuminat- 
ed the  world — to  the  Bacons,  the  Newtons,  the  Lockes, 
—Allow  me  to  mention  onfe,  Daniel  Bernoulli,  the  moll 
elegant  mathematician,  the  only  philofopher,  and  the 
moft  worthy  man,  of  that  celebrated  family.  He  faid 
to  a  gentleman  (Dr.  Staehlingj  who  repeated  it  to  me, 
that  "  when  reading  fome  of  thofe  wonderful  gueffes  of 
Sir  Ifaac  Newton,    the   fubfequent  demonftration  of 

.     Z 


tB€  THE  ILLUiMINATI. 

vhieh  has  been  the  -chief  fource  of  fame  to  his  moft  ce^ 
]^brated  commentators — his  mind  has  fometimes  beer* 
fo  overpowered  by  thrilling  emotions,  that  he  has  wifli- 
ed  that  moment  to  be  his  lail ;  and  that  it  was  this  which 
gave  him  the  cleared  conception  of  the  happinefs  of 
heaven."  If  fach  delightful  emotions  could  beexcited- 
by  the  perception  of  mere  truth,  what  mufl  they  be. 
vhen  each  of  thefe  truths  is  an  inftance  of  w' ifdom,  and 
when  we  recolleft,  that  what  we  call  wifdom  in  the 
works  of  nature,  is  always  the  nice  adaptation  of  means, 
for  producing  hcnejicent  ends ;  and  that  each  of  thefe  af- 
fecting qualities  is  fufceptible  of  degrees  which  are 
boundlefs,  and  exceed  our  higheft  conceptions.  What 
can  this  complex  emotion  or  feeling  be  but  rapture  ? 
But  Bernoulli  is  a  DoQor  of  Theology — and  therefore 
a  fufpicious  perfon,  perhaps  one  of  the  combination 
hired  by  defpots  to  enflave  us.  I  will  take  another, 
man,  a  gentleman  of  rank  and  family,  a  foldier,  who 
often  lignalifed  himfelf  as  a  naval  commander — who  at 
one  time  forced  his  way  through  a  powerful  fleet  of  the 
Venetians  with  a  fmall  fquadron,  and  brought  relief  to 
a  dlltreffed  garrifon.  I  w"oivld  defire  the  reader  to  pe- 
rufe  the  conclufion  of  Sir  Kenhclm  Digby's  Treatifes  on 
Body  and  Mind  ;  and  after  having  refleQed  on  the  ftate 
of  fcience  at  the  time  thisauUior  wrote,  let  him  coolly 
veigh  the  incitements  to  manly  conduft  which  this  fol- 
dier finds  in  the  differences  obferved  between  body  and 
mind  ;  and  then  let  him  fay,  on  his  confcience,  whether 
they  are  more  feeble  than  thofe  which  he  can  draw  from 
the  eternal  deep  of  death.  If  he  thinks  that  they  are-^ 
he  is  in  the  proper  frame  for  initiation  into  Spartacus's 
higher  myfteries.     He  may  be  either  Magus  or  Rex. 

Were  this  a  proper  place  for  confidering  the  queftion 
a<^  3  queftion  of  fcience  or  truth,  I  would  fay,  that  eve- 


THE  ILLUMINATL  iS/ 

ry  man  who  has  been  difuccejiful  ftudent  of  nature,  and 
"Nvho  will  reft  his  conclufions  on  the  fame  maxims  of  pro- 
bable reafoning  that  have  piocured  him  fuccefs  in  his 
pall  refearches,  will  confider  it  as  next  to  certain  that 
there  is  another  ftate  of  exiftence  for  rational  man.  For 
he  muft  own,  that  if  this  be  not  the  cafe,  there  is  a  mod' 
lingular  exception  to  a  propofition  which  the  whole 
courfe  of  his  experience  has  made  him  confider  as  a 
truth  founded  on  univerial  induQiion,  viz.  that  nature 
accoTiipliJhes  all  her  plans^  and  that  cyexy  clafs  of  beings 
attains  all  the  improvement  of  which  it  is  capable.  LeC 
him  but  turn  his  thoughts  inward,  he  v;ili  feel  that  his 
intellecl  is  capable  of  improvement,  in  comparifon  wiili 
which  Newton  is  but  a  child.  I  could  purfue  this  argu- 
ment very  far,  and  (I  think)  warm  the  heart  of  every 
man  whom  I  Ihould  wifli  to  call  my  friend. 

What  opinion  will  be  formed  of  this  AlTociation  by 
the  modeft,  the  lowly-minded,  the  candid,  who  acknow- 
ledge  that  they  too  often  feel  the  fflperior  force  of  pre- 
fent  and  fenhble  pleafures,  by  which  their  minds  are 
drawn  off  from  the  contemplation  of  what  their  confci- 
cnces  tell  them  to  be  right — to  be  their  dutiful  and  filial 
fentiments  and  emotions  refpetling  their  great  and  good 
Parent — to  be  their  dutiful  and  neighbourly  affefclions, 
and  their  proper  conduct  to  all  around  them — and  which 
diminifh  their  veneration  for  that  purity  of  thought  and 
moderation  of  appetite  which  becomes  their  noble  na- 
tures. What  mull  they  think  of  this  Order  ?"  Confcious 
of  frequent  faults,  which  would  offend  themfelves  if 
committed  by  their  deareft  children,  they  look  up  to 
their  Maker  with  anxiety — are  forry  for  having  fo  far 
forgotten  their  duty,  and  fearful  that  they  may  again 
forget  it.  Their  painful  experience  tells  them  that  their 
leafon  is  often  too  weak,  their  iniorraation  too  fcantyj 


^83  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

pr  its  light  is  obftru6led  by  pafiTion  and  prejudices,  whicl^ 
diftort  and  difcolour  every  thing  ;  or  it  is  unheeded  dur- 
ing their  attention  to   prefent  objefts.     Happy  fhoul4 
they  be,  if  it  fliould  pleafe  their  kind  Parent  to  remind 
them  of  their  duty  from  time  to  time,  or  to   influence 
tJieir  mind  in   any  way  that  would  coijipenfate  for  their 
own  ignorance,  their  own  weaknefs,  or  even  their  indo- 
lence and  negleft.     They  dare  not  expe6t  fuch  a  favor, 
which  their  modefly  tells  them  they  do  not  deferve,  and 
>vhich  they    fear  may  be  unfit  to  be  granted  ;  but  whei^ 
fuch  a  comfort  is  held  out  to.  them,  with  eager  hearts^ 
they  receive  it — they   blefs  the  kindnefs  that  granted  it, 
and  the  hand  that  brings  it,- — -Such  amiable  charaftexs 
have  appeared  in  all  ages,  and  in   ail  fituations  of  man- 
kind.    They  have  not   in  all  inilances  been  wife — oftei^ 
have  they  been  precipitate,  and  have  too  readily  catch- 
ed  at  any  thing  which  pretended  to   give  them   the  fo 
much  wiflied-for  affiftances  ;  and,  unfortunately,  there 
have  been   enthufiafts,  or  villains,  who   have  taken  ad, 
vantage  of  this  univerfal  wifli  of  anxious  man  ;  and  the 
world  has  been  darkened  by  cheats,  whq  have  mifrepre- 
fented  God  to  mankind,  have    filled  us   with   vain  ter- 
rors, and  have  then  quieted  our  fears  by  fines,  and  far 
crifices,  and   mortifications,  and   fervices,  which  they 
faid  made  more  than  amends  for  all  our  faults.     Thus 
was  our  duty   to  our  neighbour,  to  our  own   dignity^ 
and  to  oqr  Maker  and  Parent,  kept  out  of  fight,  and  re- 
ligion no  longer  came   in  aid  to   our  fenfe  of  right  an4 
wrong ;  hut,  on   the  contrary,  by  thefe  fuperftitions  it, 
opened  the  doors  of  heaven  to  the    worthiefs   and  the 
wicked. — But  I  wifii  not  to  fpeak  of  thefe  men,  hut  of 
the  good,  the  candid,  the  modest,  the   hvmble  who 
know  their  failings,  who  love   their  duties,  but  wilh  to 
know,  to  perceive,  and  to  love  them  Hill  more.     Thefe 
fire  they   who  thiuk  and  believe  that  "  the  Gofpel  has 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  t% 

brought  life  and  immortality  to  light,"  that  is,  within 
their  reach.  They  think  it  worthy  of  the  Father  of  maiir. 
kind,  and  they  receive  it  with  thankful  hearts,  admiring 
above  all  things  the  fimplicity  of  its  morality,  compre- 
hended in  one  ientence,  "  Do  to  another  what  you  can 
reafonably   wifh   that  another   fliould   do  to  you,"  and 

THAT  PURITY  OF  THOUGHT  AND  MANNERS  WHICH 
OlSTIN  GU  ISHES  IT  FROM  ALL  T  H  E  S  Y  ST  E  M  S  O  f  M  0-» 
RAL    INSTRUCTION    THAT   HxWE   EVER  BEEN    OFFLR- 

ED  TO  MEN.  Here  ■  they  find  a  ground  of  rehgnatioa 
under  the  troubles  of  life,  and  a  lupport  in  the  hour  of 
death,  quite  fuited  to  the  diffidence  of  their  charafter. 
Such  men  are  ready  to  grant  that  the  Stoics  were  per- 
fons  of  noble  and  exalted  minds,  and  that  they  had  wor^ 
thy  conceptions  of  the  rank-  of  man  in  the  fcalc  of  God's 
works  ;  but  they  confefs  that  they  themfclves  do  not 
feel  all  that  fupport  from  Stoical  principles  which  man 
too  frequently  needs  }  and  they  fay  that  they  are  not 
fmgular  in  their  opinions,  but  that  the  bulk  of  mankind 
are  prevented,  by  their  want  of  heroic  fortitude,  by 
their  fituation,  or  their  want  of  the  opportunities  of  cul-r 
tivating  their  native  ftrength  of  mind,  from  ever  attain- 
ing this  hearty  fubmiffion  to  the  v;ill  of  Deity, — They 
maintain,  that  the  Stoics  were  hut  a  few,  a  very  few,  from 
^mong  many  millions — and  therefore //i^ir  being  fatisfied 
was  but  a  trifle  amidft  die  general  difcontent,and  fretting, 
and  defpair. — Such  men  will  moft  certainly  ftart  back 
from  this  Illumination  with  horror  and  fright — from  a 
Society  which  gives  the' lie  to  their  fondeft  hopes,  makes 
a  fport  of  their  grounds  of  hope,  and  of  their  deliverer; 
and  which,  after  laughing  at  their  credulity,  bids  them 
fliake  off  all  religion  whatever,  and  denies  the  exiRence 
of  that  Supreme  Mind,  the  pattern  of  all  excellence, 
who  till  now  had  filled  their  thoughts  with  admiration 
^od  love — from  an  Order  which  preteacls  to  free  theia 


190 


THE  ILLUMINATI. 


from  fpiritual  bondage,  and  then  lays  on  theirnecks  a 
load  ten  times  more  oppreiTive  and  intolerable,  from 
which  they  have  jio  power  of  ever  efcaping.  Men  of 
fenfe  and  virtue  will  fpurn  at  fuch  a  propofal ;  and  even 
the  profligate,  who  trade  with  Deity,  muft  be  fenhblc 
that  they  will  be  better  off  with  their  priefts,  whom  they 
know,  and  among  whom  they  may  make  a  feleftion  of 
fuch  as  will  with  patience  and  gentlenefs  clear  up  their 
doubts,  calm  their  fears,  and  encourage  their  hopes. 

And  all  good  men,  all  lovers  of  peace  and  of  juflice, 
will  abhor  and  reject  the  thought  of  overturning  the  pre- 
fent  conftitution  of  things,  faulty  as  it  may  be,  merely 
in  the  endeavour  to  eilablifii  another,  which  the  vices  of 
mankind  may  fubvert  again  in  a  twelvemonth.  They 
muft  fee,  that  in  order  to  gain  their  point,  the  propofers 
have  found  it  neceffary  to  deflroy  the  grounds  of  mora- 
lity, by  permitting  the  moft  wicked  means  for  accom- 
plifliing  any  end  that  our  fancy,  warped  by  pafiion  or  in- 
tereft,  may  reprefent  to  us  as  of  great  importance.  They 
fee,  that  inflead  of  morality,  vice  mult  prevail,  and  that 
therefore  there  is  no  fecurity  for  the  continuance  of  this 
Utopian  felicity  ;  and,  in  the  mean  time,  defolation  and 
mifery  mufl  lay  the  world  walie  during  the  ftruggle,  and 
half  of  thofe  for  whom  we  are  flriving  will  be  fv/ept  from 
the  face  of  the  earth.  We  have  but  to  look  to  France, 
where  in  eight  years  there  have  been  more  executions 
and  fpoilations  and  diflrelfes  of  every  kind  by  the  pou- 
vcir  revohiticnnaire,  than  can  be  found  in  the  Idng  re- 
cords of  that  defpotic  monarchy. 

There  is  nothing  in  the  whole  conftitution  of  the  Illu- 

o 

minati  that  ftrikes  me  with  more  horror  than  the  propo- 
fals  of  Hercules  and  Minos  to  enlift  the  women  in  this 
ihocking  warfare  with  all  that  "  is  good,  and  pure,  and 


THE  ILLUMINATL-  191 

lo\^e]y^and  of  good  report,"  They  could  not  have  fallen 
on  any  expedient  that  will  be  more  elfeftual  and  fatal. 
If  any  of  my  countrywomen  fiiall  honor  thcfe  pages  with 
a  reading,  I  would  call  on  them,  in  the  mod:  earneft 
manner,  to  confider  this  as  an  affair  of  the  utmoft  im- 
portance to  themfelves.  I  would  conjure  them  by  the 
regard  they  have  for  their  own  dignity,  and  for  their 
rank  in  focicty,  to  join  againll  thefe  enemies  of  human 
nature,  and  profligate  degraders  of  the  fcx;  and  I  would 
affurc  them  that  the  prefent  ftateof  things  almoft  putsitin 
their  power  to  be  the  faviours  of  the  world.  But  if  they 
are  reraifs,  and  yield  to  the  feduftion,  they  will  fall  from 
that  high  ftate  to  which  they  have  arifen  in  ChrKtiaa 
Europe,  and  again  fink  into  that  infignificancy  or  flave- 
ry  in  which  the  fex  is  found  in  all  ages  and  countries  out: 
of  the  hearing  of  Chriftianity. 

I  hope  tliat  my  countrywomen  will  confider  this  fo- 
lemn  addrefs  to  them  as  a  proof  of  the  high  eftcem  in 
which  I  hold  them.  They  will  not  be  offended  then  if, 
in  this  feafon  of  alarm  and  anxiety,  when  I  wifh  to  im- 
prefs  their  minds  with  a  ferious  truth,  I  fhail  wave  cere- 
mony which  is  always  defigning,  and  fpeak  of  them  in 
honcil  but  decent  plainnc fs. 

Man  is  immerfed  in  luxury.  Our  accommodations 
are  now  fo  numerous  that  every  thing  is  pleafure.  Even 
in  very  fober  fituations  in  this  highly  cultivated  Soci- 
ety, there  is  hardly  a  thing  that  remains  in  the  form  of 
a  neceilary  of  life,  or  even  of  a  mere  conveniency — • 
every  thing  is  ornamented — it  muft  not  appear  of  ufe 
— it  mufl  appear  as  giving  fome  fenfible  pleafure.  I  do 
not  fay  this  by  way  of  blaming — it  is  nature — -ma«  is  a 
refining  creature,  and  our  mofl  boafled  acquirements 
are  but  refmecients  on  our  neceifary   wants.     Our  hut 


192  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

becomes  a  palace,  our  blanket  a  fine  drefs,  aiid  exit 
arts  become  fciences.  This  difcontent  with  the  natiii-al 
condition  of  things,  and  this  difpofition  to  refinement, 
is  a  charafteriftic  of  our  fpecies,  and  is  the  great  em- 
ployment of  our  lives.  The  direQion  tvhich  this  pro- 
penfity  chances  to  take  in  any  age  or  nation,  marks  its 
character  in  the  mofl:  confpicuous  and  interefting  raan- 
Ker.  All  have  it  in  fome  degree,  and  it  is  very  con- 
ceivable that,  in  fome,  it  may  conftitute  the  chief  ob- 
jefcl  of  attention.  If  this  be  the  cafe  in  any  nations,  it 
is  furely  mo{\  likclv  to  be  fo  in  tho-fe  where  the  accom- 
modations of  life  are  the  moft  numerous — therefore  in 
a  rich  and  luxurious  Ration.  1  may  furely,  without 
exaggeration  or  reproach,  give  that  appellation  to  our 
own  nation  at  this  moment.  If  you  do  not  go  to  the 
very  lowefl:  clafs  of  people,  who  muft  labour  all  day,  is 
it  not  the  chief  objed  of  all  to  procure  perceptible  jjlea- 
fure  in  one  way  or  another  ?  The  fober  and  bufy  ftrug- 
gle  in  the  thoughts  and  hopes  of  getting  the  means  of  en- 
joying the  corfiforts  o-f  life  without  farther  labour — and 
many  have  no  other  object  than  pleafure. 

Then  let  us  refleft  that  it  is  woman  that  is  to  grace  th^ 
whole — It  is  in  nature,  it  is  the  very  conftitution  of 
man,  that  woman,  and  every  thing  conne6led  with  wo- 
man, muft  appear  as  the  ornament  of  life.  That  this 
mixes  with  every  other  focial  fentiment,  appears  from 
the  conduct  of  our  fpecies  in  all  ages  and  in  every  fitu- 
ation.  This  I  prefume  would  be  the  cafe,  even  tho-ugh 
there  were  no  qualities  or  talents  in  the  fex  to  jullify  it. 
Tliis  fentiment  refpcBing  the  fex  is  neceffary,  in  order 
to  rear  fo  hclplefs,  fo  nice,  and  fo  improveable  a  crea- 
ture as  man ;  without  it,  the  long  abiding  tafi;  could 
not  be  performed  : — and  I  think  that  I  may  venture  ta 
iay  that  it  is  performed  in  the  different  ft-ates  of  fociety 


THE  iLLUMINAtl.  i^ 

tieariy  in  proportion  as  this  preparatory  and  indifpenfa* 
ble  fentiment  is  in  force* 

(3n  the  other  hand,  I  think  it  no  lefs  evident  that  it 
is  the  defire  of  the  women  to  be  agreeable  to  the  men, 
and  that  they  will  model  themfelves  according  to  what 
they  think  will  pleafe;  Without  this  adjuftment  of 
fentiments  by  nature,  nothing  would  go  on.  We  ne- 
ver obferve  any  fuch  want  of  fymmetry  in  the  works  o£ 
God.  If,  therefore,  thofe  who  take  the  lead,  and  give 
the  fafhion  in  fociety,  were  wife  and  virtuous^,  1  havtf 
tio  doubt  but  that  the  women  would  fet  the  brightefl 
pattern  of  every  thing  that  isexcellent.  But  if  the  meri 
are  nice  and  faftidious  fenfualifts,  the  women  will  be 
t-efined  and  elegant  voluptuaries* 

There  is  no  deficiency  in  the  female  mind,  either  iri 
talents  or  in  difpofitions  ;  nor  can  we  fay  with  certainty 
that  there  is  any  fubjeft  of  intelleftual  or  moral  difcuf- 
fion  in  which  women  nave  not  excelled.  If  the  delica- 
cy of  their  conftitutioUj  and  other  phyfical  caufes,  al- 
low the  female  fex  a  fmaller  fhare  of  forae  mental  pow- 
fers,  they  poflefs  others  in  a  fuperior  degree^  which  are 
ho  lefs  refpeBable  in  their  own  nature,  and  of  as  great 
importance  to  fociety.  Inftead  of  defcanting  at  large 
on  their  powers  of  mind,  and  fupporting  my  aiTertions 
by  the  inftances  of  a  Hypatia,  a  Schurman,  a  Zenobia, 
an  Elifabethj  &c.  I  may  repeat  the  account  given  of 
the  fex  by  a  perfon  of  uncommon  experience,  who  faw 
them  without  difguife,  or  any  tfiotive  that  could  lead 
them  to  play  a  feigned  part. — Mr.  Ledyard,  who  tra- 
verfed  the  greateft  part  of  the  world,  for  the  mere  in- 
dulgence of  his  tafte  for  obfervation  of  human  nature  j 
generally  in  Want,  and  often  in  extreme  mifery. 

A  *. 


3^4  *i^HE  ILLUMINATr. 

'•  I  have  (fays  he)  always  remarked  that  woraerr,  kit 
all  countries,  are  civil,  obliging,  tender,  and  humane ;. 
that  they  are  ever  inclined  to  be  gay  and  cheerful,  timor- 
ous and  modeft ;  and  that  they  do  not  hefitate,  like 
man,  to  perform  a  kind  or  generous  aftion. — Not 
haughty,  not  arrogant,  not  fupercilious,  they  are  full 
of  courtefy,  and  fond  of  fociety — more  liable  in  gene-; 
ral.  to  err  than  man,  but  in  general,  alfo,  more  virtu- 
ous, and  performing  more  good  aftions  than  he.  To  a- 
woman,  whether  civilized  or  favage,  I  never  addrefl'ed 
myfelfin  the  language  of  decency  and  friendlhip,  with- 
out receiving  a  decent  and  friendly  anfwer — with  man 
it  has  often  been  otherwife^ 

"  In  wandering  over  the  barren  plains  of  inhofpitable 
Denmark,  through  honeft  Sv^reden,  and  frozen  Lap- 
land, rude  and  churlifli  Finland,  unprincipled  RufTia, 
and  the  wide  fpread  regions  of  the  wandering  Tartar — • 
if  hungry,  dry,  cold,,  wet,  or  lick,  the  women  have 
ever  been  friendly  to  me,  and  uniformly  fo  ;  and  to  add 
to  this  virtue  (fo  worthy  of  the  appellation  of  benevo- 
lence) thefe  a£lions  have  been  performed  in  fo  free  and 
ib  kind  a  manner,  that  if  I  was  thirfty,  I  drank  the 
fweeteft  draught,  and  if  hungry,  I  ate  the  coarfe  meal 
with  a  double  relilli." 

And  thefe  are  they  whom  Weifiiaupt  would  corrupt ! 
-  One  of  thefe,  whom  he  had  embraced  with  fondnefs, 
would  he  have  murdered,  to  fave  his  honor,  and  qua- 
lify himfelf  to  preaci\  virtue  !  But  let  us  not  be  too  fe- 
vere  on  Weifhaupt — let  us  wain  ourfelves  clear  of  all 
flain  before  we  think  of  reprobating  him.  Are  we  not 
guilty  in  fome  degree,  when  we  do  not  cultivate  in  the 
women  thefe  powers  of  mind,  and  thofe  difpofitions  of 
heart,  which  would  eq^ually  dignify  them  in  every  fta- 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  19^ 

tion  as  in  thofe  humble  ranks  in  which  Mr.  Ledyard 
moft  frequently  faw  them  ?  I  cannot  think  that  we  do 
this.  They  are  not  only  to  grace  the  Vv'hole  of  cultivat- 
ed fociety,  but  it  is  in  their  faithful  and  affefilionate 
perfonal  attachment  that  we  are  to  find  the  fweeteft  plca- 
furcs  that  life  can  give.  Yet  in  all  the  fituations  where 
the  manner  in  which  they  are  treated  is  not  dilated  by 
■the  ftern  laws  of  neceffity,  are  they  not  trained  up  for 
mere  amufement — are  not  ferious  occupations  confider- 
ed  as  a  tafic  which  hurts  their  lovelinefs  ?  What  is  this 
but  felfiflmefs,  or  as  if  they  had  no  virtues  worth  cultivat- 
ing ?  Their  bujinefs  is  fuppofed  to  be  the  ornamenting 
themfelves,  as  if  nature  did  not  ditlate  this  to  diem  al- 
ready, with  at  lead  as  much  force  as  is  neceifary.  Eve- 
ry thing  is  prefcribed  to  them  becavfe  it  makes  them,  more 
lovely — even  their  moral  ieiTons  arc  enforced  by  this  ar- 
gument, and  Mrfs  Woolftoncroft  is  perfcftly  right  when 
fhe  fays  that  the  fine  leffons  given  to  young  women  by 
Fordyce  or  Rouffeau  are  nothing  but  felfifh  and  refined 
•vbluptuoufnef^.  This  advocate  of  her  fex  puts  her  fif- 
ters  in  the  proper  point  of  view,  when  (he  tells  them 
that  they  are,  lik-e  man,  the  fubjefts  of  God's  moral  go- 
vernment— like  man,  preparing  themfelves  for  bound- 
lefs  improvement  in  a  better  ftate  of  exiftence.  Had 
fhe  adhered,  to  this  view  of  the  matter,  and  kept  it  con- 
•ftantly  irr  fight,  her  book  (vyhich  doubtlefs  contains  ma-- 
iiy  excellent  things,  highly  deferving  of  tlieir  ferious 
confideration)  would  have  been  a  moii valuable  work: 
She  juft^ly  obferves,  that  the  virtues  of  the  fex  are  great 
and  refpeftable,  but  that  in'  our  mad  chace  of  pieafure, 
only  pieafure,  they  are  little  thought  of  or  attended  to. 
Man  trufts  to  his  own  uncontroulable  power,  or  to  the 
general  goodnefs  of  the  fex,  that  their  virtues  will  ap- 
pear when  we  have  occafion  for  them  ; — "  but  we  will 
lend  for  thefe  fome  other  time  i"- — Many  noble  difplays 


196     ^  THE  ILLtJMINATI. 

do  they  make  of  the  moil  difficult  attainments,  Such 
is  the  patient  bearing  up  under  misfortunes,  which  has 
no  brilliancy  to  fupport  it  in  the  effort.  This  is  more 
difficult  than  braving  danger  in  an  a6live  and  confpicu- 
ous  fituation.  How  often  is  a  woman  left  with  a  family 
and  the  ffiattered  remains  of  a  fortune,  loft  perhaps  by 
.diffipatiqn  or  by  indolence— and  how  feldom,  how  very 
feldom,  do  we  fee  woman  flirink  from  the  taflc,  or  dif- 
charge  it  with  negligence  ?  Is  it  not  therefore  folly  next 
to  madnefs,  not  to  be  careful  of  this  our  greateft  blef- 
iing — of  things  which  fo  nearly  concern  our  peace— nor 
guard  ourfelves,  and  thefe  our  beft  companions  and 
friends,  from  the  effeds  of  this  fatal  Illumination  ?  It 
has  indeed  brought  to.  light  what  dreadful  lengths  men 
will  go,  when  under  the  fanatical  and  dazzling  glare  of 
happinefs  in  a  ftate  of  liberty  and  equality,  and  fpurred 
on  by  infatiable  luxury,  and  not  held  in  check  by  moral 
feelings  and  the  reftraints  of  religion— and  mark,  reader, 
that  the  women  have  here  alfo  taken  the  cornplexion  of 
the  men,  and  have  even  gone  beyond  them.  IF  we  have 
feen  a  Jon  prefent  hi.nfelf  to  the  National  Allembly  of 
France,  profeffing  his  fatisfa6lion  with  the  execution  of 
iiis  father  three  days  before,  and  declaring  himfelf  a  true 
citizen,  who  prefers  the  nation  to  all  other  confidera- 
tions ;  we  have  alfo  feen,  an  the  fame  day,  wives  de- 
jiouncing  their  hufbands,  and  (O  fliocking  to  human 
nature  !)  mothers  denouncing  their  fons,  as  bad  citizens 
and  traitors,.  Marjc  too  what  return  the  women  have 
met  with  far  all  their  horrid  fervices,  where,  to  exprefs 
their  fentiments  of  civifm  and  abhorrence  of  royalty, 
they  threw  away,  the  charaQer  of  their  fex,  and  bit  the 
amputated  limbs  of  thei,r  murdered  countrymen.*  Sure- 

*  I  fay  this  on  the  authority  of  a  young  gentleman,  an  emi- 
grant, who  faw  it,  and  who  faid,  that  they  were  women,  not  of 
the  dregs  of  the  Palais  lloyal,  nor  of  infamous  chai-a(^er,  but  well 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  197 

j^y  thefe  patriotic  women  merited  that  the  rights  of  their 
lex  (hould  be  coulidered  in  full  council,  and  they  were 
well  entitled   to  a  feat ;  but  there  is   not   a  lingle  a6l  of 

:their  government  in  which  the  (ex  is  confidered  as  hav- 
ing any  rights  whatever,  or  that  they  are  thiags  to  be 
cared  for. 

Are  not  the  accurfed  fruits  of  Illumination  to  be  fcen 
in  the  prefent  humiliating  condition  of  woman  in  France? 
pampered  in  every  thing  that  can  reduce  them  to  tlie 
mere  inftrument  of  animal  plealure.  In  their  prefent 
flate  of  national  moderation  (as  they  call  it)  and  fecuri- 
ty,  fee  Madame  Talien  come  into  the  public  theatre,  ac- 
companied by  other  btauhful  women  (I  was  about  to 
have  milrtamed  them  Ladies)  laying  aiidc  ail  modefty, 
and  prefendng  themfelves  to  the  public  view,  with  bared 
Jimbs,  a  la  Saiivage^  as  the  alluring  objetls  of  defire.  I 
make  no  doubt  but  that  this  is  a  ferious  matter,  encourag- 
ed, nay, prompted  by  government.  To  keep  the  minds  of 
the  Parihans  in  the  prefent  fever  of  diifolute  gaiety,  they 
are  at  more  expence  from  the  national  ireafury  for  the 
fupport  of  the  fixty  theatres,  than  all  the  penlions  and 
honorary  offices  in  Britain,  three  times  told,  amount  tO;. 
.\Vas  not  their  abominable  farce  in  the  church  of  Notre 
Dame  a  bait  of  the  fam.e  kind,  in  the  true  fpirit  of 
Weifhaupt's  Erotcrion  ?  1  was  pleafed  to  fee  among  the 
prielts  of  that  folemni^y  Mr,  Brigonzi,  an  old  acquaint- 
ance, formerly  Machinijle  (and  excellent  in  his  profciH- 
on)  to  the  opera  at  tlif  palace  in  St.  Peterfburg.  He 
was  a  moll  zealfcjus  Mafon,  and  Chevalier  de  1  Orient ; 
and  I  knov/  that  he  went  to  Paris  in  the  fame  capacity 
of  Machinijle  d^   rOpera  ;  fo  that  I  am  next  to  certain 

drelTed. — I  am  forry  to  add,  that  the  relation,  accompanied  with 
.looks  of  horror  and  difguft,  only  proypked  a  contemptuous  fn^ile 
.from  au  illuminated  Britiih  Fair  one. 


193  T^HE  ILLUMINATI. 


that  this  is  the  very  man.  But  what  will  be  the  end  of 
all  this  ?  The  fondlings  of  the  wealthy  will  be  pamper- 
ed in  all  the  indulgences  which  faftidious  voluptuoufnefs 
finds  neceffary  for  varying  or  enhancing  its  pleafures ;  but 
they  will  either  be  flighted  as  toys,  or  they  will  be  im- 
mured ;  and  the  companions  of  the  poor  will  be  drudg- 
es and  {laves. 

i  am  fully  perfuaded  that  it  was  the  enthufiaftic  ad- 
tniration  of  Grecian  democracy  that  recommended  ta 
the  French  nation  the  drefs  a  la  Grecque^  which  exhibits^ 
not  the  elegant,  ornamented  beauty,  but  the  beautiful 
female,  fully  as  well  as  Madame  Talien's  drefs  a  la  Saw- 
^oage.  It  was  no  doubt  with  the  fame  adherence  ioferi- 
■ous  principle,  that  Mademoifelle  Therouanne  was  moft 
beautifully  dreffed  a  VAmazonne  on  the  5th  of  October 
1789,  when  fhe  turned  the  heads  of  fo  many  young  of- 
ficers of  the  regiments  at  Verfailles.  The  Cvtherea,  the 
hominum  droumque  voluptas,  at  the  -cathedral  of  Notre 
Dame,  was  alfo  dreffed  a  la  Grccque  ;  and  in  this,  and 
in  much  of  the  folemnities  of  that  day,  I  recognized  the 
tafte  and  invention  of  my  old  acquaintance  Biigonzi.  I 
recollefted  the  dreffes  of  our  premiere  id  Jeconde  Surveil- 
lantes  in  the  Lege  de  la  FidelitL  There  is  a  mofl  evi- 
dent and  characleriftic  change  in  the  whole  fyflem  of  fe- 
male drefs  in  France.  The  Filles  de  l' Opera  always 
gave  the  ton,  and  v;ere  furely  withheld  by  no  rigid  prin- 
ciple. They  fometimes  produced  very  extravagant  and 
fantaflic  forms,  but  thefe  were  almofl  always  in  the  flyle 
of  the  higheft  ornament,  and  they  truflcd,  for  the  reft  of 
the  impreffion  which  they  wifhed  to  make,  to  the  fafci- 
nating  expreffion  of  elegant  movements.  This  indeed 
was  wonderful,  and  hardly  conceivable  by  any  who  have 
not  feen  a  grand  ballet  performed  by  good  aftors.  I 
have   fhed   tears  of  the  moft  fnicere  and  tender  furrow 


THE  ILLUMINATL  199 

during  the  exhibition  of  Antigone,  fet  to  mulic  by  Tra- 
etta,   and  performed  by  Madame  Meilcour  and  Sre  To- 
reili,  and  Zantini.     I  can  eafily  conceive  the  impreflion 
to  be  ftili  ftronger,  though  perhaps  of  another  kind,  when 
the  former  ftiperb  drefles  are  changed  for  the  expreffive 
fimplicity  of  the  Grecian.     I  cannot  help  thinking  that 
the   female  ornaments  in  the  reft  of   Europe,  and  even 
among  ourfelves,   have   lefs  elegance  fmce  we   loft  the 
imprimatur  of  the  French  court.     But  fee  how  all   this 
will  terminate,  when  we  fliall  have  brought   the  fex   fc> 
low,  and  will  not  even  wait  for  a  Mahometan  paradife. 
What  can   we  expeft   but  fuch  a  diffolutenefs  of  man- 
ners, that  the  endearing  ties  of  relation  and  family,  and 
mutual  confidence  within  doors,  will  be  flighted,  and  will 
ceafe  ;  and  every  man  muft  ftand  up  for  himfclf,  fingle 
and   alone,  in  perfeft   equality,   and    full  liberty  to  do 
whatever  his  own  arm  (but  that  alone)  is  able  to  accom- 
plifh.     This  is  not  the  fuggeftion  of  prudifli  fear,  I  think 
it  is  the  natural   courfe  of  things,  and  that  France  is  ^t 
this  moment   giving   to   the   world   the  fulleft  proof  of 
Weifhaupt's  fagacity,  and  the  judgment  with  which  he 
has  formed  his  plans.   Can  it  tend  to  the  improvement  of 
our  morals  or  fnanners   to  have  our  ladies  frequent   the 
gymnaftic  theatres,  and  fee  them  decide,  like  the  Roman 
matrons,  on  the  merits  of  a  naked  gladiator  or  wreftler  ? 
Have  we  not  enough  of  this  already  with  our  vaulters 
and  pofture-mafters,  and  fliould  we  admire  any  lady  who 
had  a  rage  for  fuch  fpeftacles  ?  Will  it  improve  our  tafte 
to  have  our  rooms  ornamented  with  fuch  paintings   and 
fculptures  as  filled  the  cenaculum,  and  the  ftudy  of  the 
refined  and  elegant  moralift  Horace,  who  had  the  art — 
ridendo  dicere  veruvi  ?  Shall  we  be  improved  when  fuch 
indulgences  are  thought  compatible  with  fuch  leftbns  as 
he  generally  gives   for  the   condud  of  life  ?  The  pure 
MoxaUty  of  IlluminafifiO  is  now  employed  in  ftrippin^ 


too  THE  ILLUMlNATf: 

Italy  oral!  thofe  precious  remains  of  ancient  art  arid 
voluptuoufnefs  ;  and  Paris  will  ere  long  be  the  depofit 
and  the  refort  of  artifls  from  all  nations,  there  to  ftudy 
the  works  of  ancient  mailers,  and  to  return  from  thence 
pandars  of  public  corruption.  The  plan  is  mafterly,  and 
the  low-born  Statefmen  and  Generals  of  France  may  irt 
this  refped  be  fet  on  a  level  with  a  Colbert  or  a  Conde.- 
But  the  confequences  of  this  Gallic  dominion  ovef 
the  minds  of  fallen  man  will  be  as  dreadful  as  their  do- 
minion over  their  lives  and  fortunes. 

Recollecl  in  what  manner  Spartacus  propofed  io 
corrupt  his  lifters  (for  we  need  not  fpeak  of  the  manner 
in  which  he  expe6ted  that  this  would  promote  his  plan 
— this  is  abundantly  plain.)  It  was  by  deftroying  their 
moral  fentiments,  and  their  fentiments  of  religion. — ' 
Recollect  what  is  the  recommendation  that  the  Atheift 
Minos  gives  of  his  ftep-daughters,  when  he  fpeaks  of 
them  as  proper  perfons  for  the  Lodge  of  Sifters.  "  They 
have  got  over  all  prejudices,  and,  in  matters  of  re- 
ligion, they  think  as  I  do."  Thefe  profligates  judged 
rightly  that  this  affair  required  much  caution,  and  that  the 
iitmoft  attention  to  decency,  and  even  delicacy,  muft  be 
obferved  in  their  rituals  and  ceremonies,  otherwife  they 
v.'ould  be  difgujied.  This  was  judging  fairly  of  the  feel- 
ings of  a  female  mind.  But  they  judged  falfely,  and  on- 
ly according  to  their  own  coarfe  experience,  when  they 
attributed  their  difguft  and  their  fears  to  coynefs.  Coy- 
nefs  is  indeed  the  inftinQive  attribute  of  the  female.  In 
voman  it  is  very  great,  and  it  is  perhaps  the  genuine 
fource  of  the  dijgnjl  of  which  the  Illuminati  were  fufpi- 
cious.  But  they  have  been  dim-fighted  indeed,  or  very 
unfortunate  in  their  acquaintance,  if  they  never  obferved 
any  other  fource  of  repugnance  in  the  mind  of  woman 
to  what  is  immoral  or  immodeft — if  thev  did  not  fee  dif- 


THE  ILLUMINATL  sbi 

like— moral  difapprobation.  Do  they  mean  to  infinuate, 
that  in  that  regard  which  modeft  women  exprefs  in  all 
their  words  and  aftions,  for  what  every  one  underftands 
"by  the  terms  decency,  modefty,  filthinefs,  obfcenity,  they 
only  fhow  female  coynefs  ?  Then  are  they  very  blind  in- 
ftruftors.  But  they  are  not  fo  blind.  The  accomit 
given  of  the  initiation  of  a  young  Sifter  at  Frankfort, 
under  the  feigned  name  Pfycharion^  fhows  the  moft  fcru- 
pulous  attention  to  the  moral  feelings  of  the  fex  ;  and 
the  confufion  and  difturbance  which  it  occafioned  among 
the  ladies,  after  all  their  care,  fhows,  that  when  they 
thought  all  right  and  delicate,  they  had  been  but  coarfe 
judges.  Minos  damns  the  ladies  there,  becaufe  they  are 
too  free,  too  rich,  too  republican,  and  too  wife,  for  be- 
ing led  about  by  the  nofe  (this  is  his  own  exprefiion.) 
But  Philo  certainly  thought  more  corredly  of  the  fex 
in  general,  when  he  fays.  Truth  is  a  modeft  girl  :  She 
maybe  handed  about  like  a  lady,  by  good  fenfe  and 
good  manners,  but  muft  not  be  bullied  and  driven  about 
like  a  ftrumpet.  I  would  give  the  difcourfes  or  addrcf- 
fes  which  were  made  on  that  occafion  to  the  different 
clafTes  of  the  aflembly,  girls,  young  ladies,  wives,  young 
men,  and  ftrangers,  which  are  really  well  compofed  and 
pretty,  were  they  not  fuch  as  would  offend  my  fair 
countrywomen. 

The  religious  fentiments  by  which  mortals  are  to  be 
afTifted,  even  in  the  difcharge  of  their  moral  duties,  and 
ftill  more,  the  fentiments  which  are  purely  religious, 
and  have  no  reference  to  any  thing  here,  are  precifely 
thofe  which  are  mofl  eafily  excited  in  the  mind  of  wo- 
man. Affetlion,  admiration,  filial  reverence,  are,  if  I 
miftake  not  exceedingly,  thofe  in  which  the  women  far 
furpafs  the  men  ;  and   it  is  on  this   account  that  we  ge- 

B  b 


&OZ  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

ncrally  find  them  {o  much  difpofed  to  devotion,  whrefe 
is  nothing  but  a  fort  of  fond  indulgence  of  thefe  affec- 
tions without  limit  to  the  imagination.  The  enraptur-^ 
•  ed  devotee  pours  out  her  foul  in  expreflions  of  thefe 
feelings,  iult  as  a  fond  mother  mixes  the  careffes  ^iven 
-to  her  child  ^vi^h  the  moft  extravagant  expreiTions  of 
love.  The  devotee  even  endeavours  to  excite  higher 
degrees  of  thefe  affe6lion.s,  by  expatiating  on  fuch  cir- 
cumftances  in  the  divine  conduft  with  rei'jcft  to  man  as 
Tiaturally  awaken  them  ;  and  he  does  this  without  any 
fear  of  exceeding ;  becaufe  Infinite  Wifdom  and  Good- 
nefs  will  always  juftify  the  fentiment,  and  free  the  ex- 
prefiion  of  it  from  all  charge  of  hyperbole  or  extrava- 
gance* 

I  am  convinced,  therefore,  that  the  female  mind  is. 
■well  adapted  to  cultivation  by  means  of  religion,  and 
that  their  native  foftnefs  and  kindnefs  of  heart  will  al- 
ways be  fufEcient  for  procuring  it  a  favorable  reception 
fcom  them.  It  is  therefore  with  double  regret  that  I  fee 
any  of  them  join  in  the  arrogant  pretenfions  of  our  Illu- 
minated philofophers,  who  fee  no  need  of  fuch  affiflan- 
ces  for  the  knowledge  and  difcharge  of  their  duties. 
There  is  nothing  fo  unlike  that  general  modefty  of 
thought,  and  that  diffidence,  which  we  are  difpofed  to 
think  the  chara6ler  of  the  female  mind.  I  am  inclined 
to  think,  that  fuch  deviations  from  ihe  general  conduct 
of  the  fex  are  marks  of  a  harflier  character,  of  a  heari 
that  has  lefs  fenlibility,  and  i;5  on  the  whole  lefs  amiable 
than  that  of  others  ;  yet  it  muft  be  owned  that  there  are 
fome  fuch  among  us.  Much,  if  not  the  whole  of  this 
perverfion,  has,  I  am  perfuaded,  been  owing  to  the  con- 
tagion of  bad  example  in  the  men.  They  are  made  fa- 
miliar M'ith  fuch  expreflions — their  firll  horror  is  gone, 
and  (would  to  heaven  tlaat   I  tvct^  miflaken  !)  fome  o£ 


THE  ILLUMINAtl.  205 

diem  liave  alircady  wounded  their  confciences  to  fuch  a 
degree,  that  they  have  fome  reafon  to  wifh  that  rehgion 
may  be  without  foundation. 

But  I  would  call  upon  all,  and  theje  women  in  parti- 
cular, to  confider  this  matter  in  another  light — as  it  may 
affeft  themfelves  in  this  life  ;  as  it  may  afFe6l  their  rank 
and  treatment  in  ordinary  fociety.  i  would  fay  to  them, 
that  if  the  world  fliaii  once  adopt  the  belief  that  this  lif6 
is  our  all,  then,  the  true  maxim  of  rational  condu6:  wili 
be,  to  "  eat  and  to  drink,  fince  to-morrow  we  are  to 
die  ;"  and  that  when  they  have  nothing  to  truli  to  but 
the  fondnefs  of  the  men,  they  will  fooit  find  themfelves 
reduced  to  flavery.  The  crown  which  they  now  wear 
will  fall  from  their  heads,  and  they  will  no  longer  be  the 
arbiters  of  what  is  lovely  in  human  life.  The  empire  of 
beauty  is  but  lliort ;  and  even  in  republican  France,  it 
ivill  not  be  many  years  that  Madame  Talien  can  fafci- 
nate  the  Parifian  Theatre  by  the  exhibition  of  her  charms, 
Man  is  faftidious  and  changeable,  and  he  is  ftronger  thah 
they,  and  can  always  take  his  own  will  with  refpeO:  t'o 
woman.  At  prefent  he  is  Vv^ith-held  by  refpeft  for  her 
moral  worth — and  many  are  with-held  by  religion — and 
many  more  are  with-held  by  public  laws,  which  lav*s 
were  fram.ed  at  a  time  when  religious  truths  influenced 
the  minds  and  the  conduSl  of  men.  When  the  fentimcnts 
of  men  change,  they  will  not  be  fo  foolifli  as  to  keep  in 
force  laws  which  cramp  their  flrongeftde fnts.  Then  will: 
the  rich  have  their  Harems^  and  the  poor  their  drudges. 

Nay,  it  is  not  merely  thecircumftance  of  woman's  Ik- 
ing conhdered  as  the  moral  companion  of  man  that  gives 
the  fex  its  empire  among  us.  There  is  fomethiug  of 
this  to  be  obferved  in  all  nations.  Of  all  the  diflinftionj 
Tivhich  fet   our  fpecies  above   the  ether  feniient  inhabit- 


$04  THE  ILLUMINATL 

ants  of  this  globe,  making  us  as  unlike  to  the  beft  of 
them  as  they  are  to  a  piece  of  inanimate  matter,  there  is 
none  more  remarkable  than  the  diflPerences  obfervable 
in  the  appearances  of  thofe  defires  by  v/hich  the  race  i^ 
continued.  As  I  obferved  already,  fuch  a  diftinBion 
is  indifpenfably  neceflary.  There  mull  bea.moral  con- 
jieftion,  in  order  that  the  human  fpecies  may  be  a  race 
of  rational  creatures,  iraproveable,  not  only  by  the  en- 
creafmg  experience  of  the  individual,  but  alfo  by  the  he- 
ritable experience  of  the  (ucceflive  generations.  It  may 
be  obferved  between  the  folitary  pairs  in  Labrador, 
where  human  nature  ftarves,  like  the  ftunted  oak  in  the 
crevice  of  a  baron  rock  ;  and  it  is  feen  in  the  cultivated 
focieties  of  Europe,  where  our  nature  in  a  feries  of  ages 
becomes  a  majeilic  tree.  But,  alas  I  with  what  diiier- 
ences  of  boughs  and  foliage  !  Whatever  may  be  thena-. 
live  powers  of  mind  in  the  poor  but  gentle  Efquimaux, 
fhe  can  do  nothing  for  the  Ipecies  but  nurie  a  young 
one,  who  cannot  run  his  race  of  life  without  inceifant 
end  hard  labour  to  keep  foul  and  body  together — here 
therefore  her  ftation  in  fociety  can  hardly  have  a  name, 
becaufe  there  can  hardly  be  faid  that  there  is  an  aflToci- 
stion,  except  what  is  necellary  for  repelling  the  holHle 
attacks  of  Indians,  who  feem  to  hunt  them  without  pro- 
vocation as  the  dog  does  the  hare.  In  other  parts  of  the 
•world,  we  fee  that  the  confideration  in  which  the  fex  is 
held,  nearly  follows  the  proportions  of  that  aggregate  of 
many  different  particulars,  which  we  conhder  as  confti- 
tuting  the  cultivation  of  a  fociety.  We  may  perhaps 
err,  and  we  probably  do  err,  in  our  eftimation  of  thefe 
degrees,  becaufe  we  are  not  perfectly  acquainted  with 
what  is  the  real  excellence  of  man.  But  as  far  as  we  can 
judge  of  it,  I  believe  that  my  alfertion  is  acknowledged. 
On  this  authority,  I  might  prefumo  to  fay,  that  it  is  m 
ChriPiian  Europe  that  man  has  attained  his  hightH  dc- 


THE  ILLUMINATI.  205 

gVee  of  cultivation — and  it  is  undoubtedly  here  that  the 
women  have  attained  the  highefl  rank.   1  may  even  add, 
that  it  is  in  that  part  of  Europe  where  the  elfential  and 
diftinguifhing  doftrines   of  Chriltian  morality  are  moft 
generally  acknowledged  and  attended  to  by  the  laws  of 
the  country,  that  woman  ads  the  highed  part  in  general 
fociety.     But  here   we   mud  be    very  careful  how   we 
form  our  notion,   either  of  the  fociety,  or  of  the  female 
rank — it  is  furely  not  from  the  two  or  three  dozens  who 
fill  the  higheft  ranks  in  the  (late.     Their  number  is  too 
fmall,  and  their  fituation  is  too  particular,  to  afford  the 
proper  average.     Beiides,  the  lituation  of  the  individu- 
als of  this  clafs  in  all  countries  is  very  much  the  fame — 
and  in  all  it  is  very  artificial — accordingly  their  charac- 
ter is  fantaftical.     Nor  are  we  to  take  it  from  that  clafs 
that  is  the  moft  numerous  of  all,  the  loweft  clafs  of  foci- 
ety, for  thefe  are  the  labouring  poor,  whofe  condu8;  and 
occupations  are  fo  much  ditlated   to  them  by  the  hard 
circumftances  of  their  fituation,  that  fcarcely  any  thincr 
h  left  to  their  choice.     The  fituation  of  women  of  this 
clafs  muft  be  nearly  the  fame   in  all  nations.     But  thi-s 
clafs  is  Itill  fufceptible  of  fome  variety — and  we  fee  it — 
and  I  think  that  even  here  there  is  a  perceptible  fuperi- 
ority  of  the  female  rank  in  thofe    countries  where  the 
pureft   Chriftianity    prevails.     We   muft  however  take 
our  meafures  or  proportions  from  a  numerous  clafs,  but 
alfo  a  clafs   in    fomewhat  of  eafy   circumftances,  where 
moral  fentiments  call  fome  attention,  and  peribns  hav^e 
fome  choice   in    tl"U£ir   conduct.     And  here,  although  I 
cannot  pretend  to  have  had  many  opportunities  of  obfer- 
vation,  yet  I  have  had  fome.      I  can  venture  to  fay  that 
it  is  not  in  Ruffia,  nor  in  Spain,  that  woman  is,  on   the 
whole,  the   moft  important  as  a  member  of  the  commu- 
nity.     I  would  fay,  that  in  Britain  her  important  rights 
are  more  generally  refpetted  thati  any  where  elfe.     No 


2o6  THE  ILLUMINATI. 

where  is  a  man's  charaQer  i'o  much  hurt  by  infidehtv — ► 
no  where  is  it  fo  difficult  to  rub  off  the  ftigma  of  baftar- 
dy,  or  to  procure  a  decent  reception  or  fociety  for  an 
improper  connexion ;  and  I  beheve  it  will  readily  be 
granted,  that  their  fliare  in  fucceffions,  their  authority 
in  all  matters  of  domeftic  truft,  and  even  their  opinions 
in  what  concerns  life  and  manners,  are  fully  more  ref- 
peQed  here  than  in  any  country. 

I  have  been  of  the  opinion  (and  every  obfervation 
that  I  have  been  able  to  make  fmce  I  firft  formed  it  con- 
firms me  in  it)  that  woman  is  indebted  to  Chrillianity 
alone  for  the  high  rank  fhe  holds  in  fociety.  Look  into 
the  writings  of  antiquity — into  the  works  of  the  Greek 
imd  Latin  poets — into  the  numberlefs  panegyrics  of  the 
fex,  to  be  found  both  in  profe  and  verle-*— I  can  find 
little,  very  little  indeed,  where  woman  is  treated  with 
refpecl — there  is  no  want  of  love,  that  is,  of  fondnefs, 
of  beauty,  of  charms,  of  graces.  But  of  w^oman  as  the 
equal  of  man,  as  a  moral  companion,  travelling  with 
him  the  road  to  felicity — as  his  advifer — his  folace  iri 
misfortune — as  a  pattern  from  which  he  may  fometimes 
copy  with  advantage  ; — of  all  this  there  is  hardly  a  tracd. 
Woman  is  always  mentioned  as  an  objeCl  of  paffioii. 
Chaftity,  modefty,  fober-mindednefs,  are  all  confider- 
ed  in  relation  to  this  finglc  point  ;  or  fometimes  as  of 
importance  in  refpecl  of  ceconomy  or  domertic  quiet. 
Recollect  the  famous  fpeech  of  Metellus  Numidicus  to 
the  Roman  people,  when,  as  Cenfor,  be  was  recom- 
mending marriage.- 

"  Si  fine  uxore  poffemus  Ouirites  efie,  omnes  ea  mo- 
leftia  careremus.  Sed  quoniain  ita  natura  tradidit,  ut 
iiec  cum  illis  commode,  nee  fine  illis  uilo  modo  vivi 


THE  ILLUMINATL  207 

polTet,   faluti   perpetuse   potius    quam  brevi   voluptaLi' 
conlulendum." 

Aid.  Gdl.  NoEi.  Att.  L  6. 

What  does  OVid,  the  great  panegyrift  of  the  fex,  fay 
for  his  beloved  daughter,  whom  he  had  praifed  for  her 
attrattions  in  various  places  of  his  Triflia  and  other  com- 
pofitions  ?  He  is  writing  her  Epitaph — ^and  the  only 
thing  he  can  fay  of  her  as  a  rational  creature  is,  that  fiie 

is — Domifida — not  a    Gadabout. Search   Apuleius, 

where  you  will  find  many  female  charaders  in  ahjlraclo 
— You  will  find  that  his  little  Photis  v>'as  nearcd  to  his 
heart,  after  all  his  philofophy.  Nay,  in  his  pretty  (tory 
of  Cupid  and  Pfyche,  which  the  very  wife  will  tell  yoxjt, 
is  a  fine  lelfon  of  moral  philofophy,  and  a  rcprefenta- 
tion  of  the  operations  of  the  intellectual  and  moral  fa- 
culties of  the  human  forul,  a  ftory  which  gave  him  the 
,  fined  opportunity,  nay,  almofl  made  it  necefiary  for 
him,  to  infcrt  whatever  can  ornament  the  female  cha- 
racler ;  wliat  is  his  Pfyche  but  a  beautiful,  fond,  and 
filly  girl;  and  what  are  the  whole  truits  of  any  acquain- 
tance with  the  fex? — Pleafure.  But  why  take  more 
pains  in  the  fearch  ? — Look  at  their  immortal  goddclfcs 
— is  there  one  amon^j  them  whom  a  wife  man  would  fc- 
lec^  for  a  wife  or  a  friend  ? — I  grant  that  a  Lucretia  is 
praifed — a  Portia,  an  Arria,  a  Zenobia — but  thefc  are 
individual  chara6ters — not  rcpreientatiyes  of  the  fex. 
The  only  Grecian  ladies  who  made  a  figure  by  intellec- 
iaal  talents,  were  your  Afpafias,  Sapphos,  Phryne?, 
and  other  nymphs  of  this  cafi,  who  had  emerged  from 
the  general  uifi^yiificance  of  the  fex,  by  throwing  away 
what  we  are  acculiomed  to  call  its  greatell  ornament. 

I  third;  that  the  firft:  piece  in  which  woman  is  piBured 
as  a  refp]|ttable  charaQer.  is  the  oldill  novel  that  I  aoa 


£-8  THE  ILLUMINATE 

acquainted  with,  -u'ritten  by  a  Chriftian  Bifhop,  Helio- 
dorus — I  mcao  the  Adventures  of  Theagenes  and  Cha- 
riclea.  I  think  that  the  Heroine  is  a  greater  chara61er 
than  you  will  meet  with  in  all  the  annals  of  antiquity. 
And  it  is  worth  while  to  obferve  what  was  the  effeQ;  of 
this  painting.  The  poor  Bifhop  had  been  depofed,  and 
even  excommunicated,  for  do6lrinal  errors,  and  for 
drawing  fuch  a  pi6lure  of  a  heathen.  The  magiflrates 
of  Antioch,  the  moll  voluptuous  and  corrupted  city  of 
the  Eait,  wrote  to  the  Emperor,  telling  him  that  this 
book  had  reformed  the  ladies  of  their  city,  where  Julian 
the  Emperor  and  his  Sophifts  had  formerly  preached  in 
vain,  and  they  therefore  prayed  that  the  good  Bifliop 
might  not  be  deprived  of  his  mitre. — It  is  true,  we  read 
of  Hvpatia,  daughter  of  Theon,  the  mathematician  at 
Alexandria,  w?ho  was  a  prodigy  of  excellence,  and 
taught  philofcphy,  i.  e.  the  art  of  leading  a  good  and 
happy  life,  with  great  applaufc  in  the  famous  Alexan- 
drian fchool. — But  llie  alfo  was  in  the  times  of  Chrifti- 
anity,  and  was  the  intimate  friend  of  Syncellusand  other 
Chriftian  Bifliops. 

It  is  undoubtedly  Chriftianity  that  has  fct  woman  on 
her  throne,  making  her  in  every  refpefl:  the  equal  of 
man,  bound  to  the  lame  duties,  and  candidate  for  the 
fame  happinefs.  Mark  how  woman  is  defcribcd  by  a 
ChrHlian  poet, 

"  Yet  when  I  approach 


Ker  lovclinefs,  fo  abfolute  Ihe  feems. 
And  in  herfclf  complete,  ib  well  to  knov;- 
Her  own,  that  what  fhe  wills  to  do  or  fay 
Seems  wZ/Ty?,  virtucufcjl,  difireetejl^  hejl. 

Neither  her  outfide,  form'd  fo  fair, 

So  much  delights  rae,  as  thofe  graceful  ails^ 
"Th'/Jf.  thc.'ifnTtd  decencies  lliai  daily  flovr 


THE  ILLUMINATI,  3109 

From  all  her  -words  and  actions,  mix'd  with  lovo 
And  fweet  compliance,  which  declare  unfeign'd 
Union  of  mind,  or  in  us  both  one  fouh 

Aiid,  to  confummate  all, 

Greatnefs  of  mind,  and  nohlenefs,  their  feat 
Build  in  her  lovelieft,  and  create  an  awe 
About  her,  as  a  guard  angslic plac' d." 

MjlTon* 

This  is  really  moral  painting,  without  any  abatement 
of  female  charms. 

This  is  the  natural  confequence  of  that  purity  of 
heart,  which  is  fo  much  inhfted  on  in  the  Chriltian  mo- 
S'ality.  In  the  inftrudions  of  the  heathen  philofophers, 
-it  is  either  not  mentioned  at  all,  or  at  mod,  it  is  recom- 
mended coldly,  as  a  thing  proper,  and  worthy  of  amind 
attentive  to  great  things. — But,  in  Chriliianity,  it  is  in- 
filled on  as  an  indifpenfable  duty,  and  enforced  by  ma- 
•ny  arguments  peculiar  toitlelf. 

It  is  worthy  of  ohfervation,  that  the  moft  prominent 

-  fuperftitions  which  have  difhonored  the  Chriftianchurciv 

•  es,  have  been  the  exceflive  refinements  which   the  en- 

thufiallic  admiration  of  heroic   purity  has   allowed  the 

holy  trade  to  introduce  into  the  manufatlure  of  our  ipi- 

■  'ritual  fetters.  Without  this  enthuliafm,  cold  expedi- 
ency would  not  4iave  been  able'  to  make  the  Monadic 
vow  fo  general,  nor  have  given  us  fuch  numbers  of  con- 
vents. Thefe  were  generally  founded  by  fuch  enthuh- 
ads — the  rulers  indeed  of  the  church  tncouraged  tliis  to 

■  the  utmod,  a.-,  the  beft  levy  for  the  fpivitual  power — ^^but 
they  could  not  enjoir^  fuch  foundations.  From  the  fame 
fource  we  may  derive  the  chief  iniiuence  of  auricular 
confeflion.     When   thefe  were  [irmly  eit:Abli{hcd3  and 

C  c 


BIO  THE  ILLUxMINATI. 

-were  venerated,  almofl  all  the  other  corruptions  of 
Chriflianity  followed  of  courfe.  I  may  almoft  add, 
that  though  it  is  here  that  Chriilianity  has  fuffered  the 
mofl  violent  attacks,  it  is  here  that  the  place  is  mofl  te- 
nable.— Nothing  tends  fo  much  to  knit  all  the  ties  of 
fociety  as  the  endearing  connexions  of  family,  and 
■whatever  tends  to  leffen  our  veneration  for  the  marriage 
contraft,  weakens  them  in  the  raoft  effcQual  manner. 
Purity  of  manners  is  its  mod  effeBual  fupport,  and 
pure  thoughts  are  the  only  fources  from  which  pure 
manners  can  flow.  I  readily  grant  that  this  veneration 
for  perfonal  purity  was  carried  to  an  extravagant  height, 
and  that  feveral  very  ridiculous  fancies  and  cuftoms 
arofe  from  this.  Romantic  love,  and  chivalry^  are 
Itrong  inftances  of  the  ftrange  vagaries  of  our  imagina- 
tion, when  carried  along  by  this  enthufiaftic  admiration 
of  female  purity  ;  and  fo  unnatural  and  forced,  that 
they  could  only  be  temporary  fafhions.  But  I  believe 
that,  with  all  their  ridicule,  it  would  be  a  happy  nation 
where  this  was  the  general  creed  and  pra6lice.  Nor 
can  I  help  thinking  a  nation  on  its  decline,  when  the 
domeftic  connexions  ceafe  to  be  venerated,  and  the  il- 
legitimate offspring  of  a  nabob  or  a  nobleman  are  re- 
ceived with  eafe  into  good  company. 

Nothing  is  more  clear  than  that  the  defign  of  the  II- 
luminati  was  to  abolifh  Chriilianity — and  we  now  fee 
how  effedual  this  would  be  for  the  corruption  of  the 
fair  fex,  a  purpofe  which  they  eagerly  wiihed  to  gain, 
that  they  might  corrupt  the  men.  But  if  the  women 
would  retain  the  rank  they  now  hold,  they  will  be  care- 
ful to  prefervc  in  full  force  on  their  minds  this  religion, 
fo  congenial  to  their  difpofitionsj  which  nature  has  made 
alfeXionate  and  kind. 


THE  ILLUMINATL  211 

And  with  refpeft  to  the  men,  is  it  not  egregious  folly 
to  encourage  any  thing  that  can  tend  to  blaft  our  fweet- 
efl  enjoyments  ?  Shall  we  not  do  this  moll  efFe£lually  if 
we  attempt  to  corrupt  what  nature  will  always  make  us 
conhder  as  the  highell  elegance  of  life  ?  The  divinity  of 
the  Stoics  was,  "  Mens  fana  in  corpore  fano" — but  it  is 
equally  true, 

"  Gratior  ejl  pulchro  veniens  e  corpore  virtus." 

If  therefore,  inftead  of  proFeffedly  tainting  what  is  of 
itfelf  beautiful,  we  could  really  work  it  up  to 

**  That  fair  form,  which,  wove  in  fancy's  loom, 
"  Floats  in  light  vifions  round  the  poet's  head," 

and  make  woman  a  pattern  of  perfe8ion,  we  fhould 
undoubtedly  add  more  to  the  heartfelt  happinefs  of  life 
than  by  all  the  difcoveries  of  the  lUuminati.  See  what 
was  the  effed  of  Theagenes  and  Chariclea. 

And  we  (liould  remember  that  with  the  fate  of  wo- 
man that  of  man  is  indiffolubly  knit.  The  voice  of 
nature  fpoke  through  our  immortal  bard,  when  he  made 
Adam  fay, 

«  From  thy  ftats 


Mine  never  fhall  be  parted,  blifs  or  woe." 

Should  we   fuffer  the  contagion   to  touch  our  fair  part- 
ner, all  is  gone,  and  too  late  fliall  we  fay, 

"  O  faired  of  creation  !   laft  and  befl 

Of  all  God's  works,  creature  in  whom  excelled 

Whatever  can  to  fig'it  or  thought  be  form'd, 

Holy^  d'lvlm,  good,  am'iajh,  orf-jueet  ! 

How  art  thou  loft — and  now  to  death  devote  ?■— 

And  me  with  thee  hafl;  ruin'd  ;  for  with  the^ 

Certain  my  rtfolution  is__ro  die." 


CHAP.     III. 

The  German  Union, 


HEN  fiich  a  fermentation  has  been  excited  in 
the  public  mind,  it  cannot  be  fuppofed  that  the  formal 
.fupprellion.of  the  Order  of  the  llhiminati  in  Bavaria, 
and  in  the  Duchy  of  Wirtemberg,  by  the  reigning  Prin- 
ces, would  bring  all  to  reft  again.  By  no  means.  The 
minds  of  men  were  predifpofcd  for  a  change  by  the  reft- 
\q{s  fpirit  of  fpeculation  in  every  kind  of  enquiry,  and 
■the  leaven  had  been  carefully  and  {liilfully  dilfeminated 
in  every  quarter  of  the  empire,  and  even  in  foreign 
countries.  Weiftiaupt  faid,  on  good  grounds,  that  "  if 
the  Order  ftiould  be  difcovered  and  fupprcfied,he  would 
reftore  it  with  tenfold  energy  in  a  twelvemonth."  F-ven 
an  thofe  Rates  where  it  was  formally  aboliftied,  nothing 
could  hinder  the  enlifting  new  members,  and  carrying 
on  all  the  purpofes  of  the  Order.  The  Areopagitre 
might  indeed  be  changed,  and  the  feat  of  the  direflion 
transferred  to  fome  other  place  ;  but  the  Minerval  and 
his  Mentor  could  meet  as  formerly,  and  a  ride  of  a  few 
miles  into  another  Slate,  would  bring  him  to  a  Lodge, 
where  the  young  would  be  amufed,  and  the  more  ad- 
vanced would  be  engaged  in   ferious  niifchief.     Weif- 


THE  GERMAN  UNIOR  213 

haupt  never  liked  childrens  play.  He  indulged  Philo 
in  it,  bscaufe  he  law  him  taken  with  fuch  rattles  ;  but 
his  own  projects  were  dark  and  folemn,  and  it  was  a  re- 
lief to  him  now  to  be  freed  from  that  mummery.  He 
foon  found  the  bent  of  the  perfon's  mind  on  whom  he 
had  fet  his  talons,  and  he  fays,  that  "  no  man  ever  ei- 
caped  him  whom  he  thought  it  worth  while  to  fecure." 
He  had  already  hlled  the  lifts  with  enough  of  the  young 
and  gay,  and  when  the  prefent  condition  of  the  Order 
required  fly  and  experienced  heads,  he  no  longer  court- 
ed them  by  play-things.  He  commimicated  the  ranks 
and  the  inltrudions  by  a  letter,  without  anv  ceremony. 
The  correfpondenee  with  Philo  at  the  time  of  the  breach 
with  him  fhows  the  fuperiority  of  Spartacus.  Philo  is 
in  a  rage,  provoked  to  find  a  pitiful  profeffor  difcon- 
tented  with  the  immenfe  fervices  which  he  had  received 
from  a  gentleman  of  his  rank,  and  treating  him  v.'ith 
authority,  and  with  difmgenuity. — He  tells  Spartacus 
what  ftill  greater  fervices  he  can  do  the  Order,  and 
that  he  can  alfo  ruin  it  with  a  breath. — But  in  the 
inidft  of  this  rage,  he  propofes  a  thoufand  modes  of  re- 
concilement. The  fmallelt  conceffion  would  make  him 
hug  Spartacus  in  his  arms.  But  Spartacus  is  deaf  to 
all  his  threats,  and  firm  as  a  rock.  Though  he  is  con- 
fcious  of  his  own  vile  conduQ:,  he  abates  not  in  the 
imalleft  point  his  abfolute  authority — requires  the  moft 
implicit  fubmiffion,  which  he  favs  "  is  due,  not  to  him, 
but  to  the  Order,  and  without  which  the  Order  muft 
immediately  go  to  ruin." — He  does  not  even  deign  to 
challenge  Philo  to  do  his  worft,  but  allows  him  to  go 
out  of  the  Order  without  one  angry  word.  This  fhows 
his  confidence  in  the  energy  of  that  fpirit  of  reftleis  dif- 
content,  and  that  hankering  after  reform  which  he  had 
fo  fuccefsfLilly  Ipread  abroad. 


314  THE  GERMAN  UNIOK. 

This  had  indeed  arifen  to  an  unparalleled  height,  un* 
expected  even  by  the  feditious  diemfelves.  This  ap- 
peared in  a  remarkable  manner  by  the  reception  given 
lo  the  infamous  letters  on  the  conilitution  of  the  Pruffi- 
an  States. 

The  general  opinion  was,  that  Mirabeau  was  the  au- 
thor of  the  letters  themfelves,  and  it  was  perfe6lly  •  un- 
derllood  by  every  perfon,  that  the  trandation  into  French 
was  a  joint  contrivance  of  Mirabeau  and  Nicholai.  I 
was  afllired  of  this  by  the  Britifli  Minifter  at  that  Court. 
There  are  fome  blunders  in  refpeft  of  names,  which  an 
inhabitant  of  the  country  could  hardly  be  guilty  of,  but 
are  very  conhftent  with  the  felf-conceit  and  precipitan- 
cy of  this  Frenchman. — There  are  feveral  inftances  of 
the  fame  kind  in  two  pieces,  which  are  known  for  cer- 
tain to  be  his,  viz.  the  Chronique  Jcandaleufe  and  the 
Hijloire  Jecrctte  de  la  Ceur  de  Berlin.  Thefe  letters 
were  in  every  hand,  and  were  mentioned  in  every  con- 
verfation,  even  in  the  Pruliian  dominions — and  in  other 
places  of  the  Empire  thev  were  quoted,  and  praiied,  and 
commented  on,  although  fome  of  their  contents  were 
nothing  fhort  of  rebellion. 

Mirabeau  had  a  large  portion  of  that  felf-conceit 
which  diftinguifhes  his  countrymen.  He  thought  him- 
felf  qualified  not  only  for  any  high  office  in  adminiftra- 
tion,  but  even  for  managing  the  whole  affairs  of  the  new 
King.  He  therefore  endeavoured  to  obain  fome  poll 
of  honor.  But  he  was  difappointed,  and,  in  revenge, 
did  every  thing  in  his  power  to  make  thofe  in  adminif- 
tration  the  objeBs  of  public  ridicule  and  reproach.  His 
licentious  and  profligate  manners  were  fuch  as  excluded 
him  from  the  fociety  of  the  people  of  the  firil  claiTes, 
whom  it  behoved  to  pay  fome  attention  to  perfonal  dig- 


t 


THE  GERMAN  UNION*.  215 

,nity.     His  opinions  were  in  the  higheft  degree  corrupt- 
ed, and  he  openly  profefled  Atheifm.     This  m&de  him 
peculiarly  obnoxious  to  the  King,  who  was  determined 
to  corretl  the  difturbances  and  difquiets  which  had  ari- 
fen  in   the  Pruffian  ftates   from  the  indifference  of  his 
predeceiTor  iq  thefe   matters.     Mirabeau   therefore  at- 
tached himfelf  to  a  junto  of  writers  and  fcribblers,  who 
had  united  in  order  to  diffeminate  licentious  principles, 
both  in  refpeci  of  religion  and  of  government.     His  wit 
and  fancy  were  great,  and  he  had  not  perhaps  his  equal 
for  eloquent  and  biting  fatire.      He  was  therefore  caref- 
fed  by    thefe  writers  as  a  moft   valuable   acquihtion  to 
their  Society.     He  took  all  this    deference   as  his  jult 
due  ;  and  was  fo  confident  in  his  powers,  and  fo  fooliOi 
as  to  advife,  and  even  to  admonilh,  the  King.     Highly 
obnoxious  by  fuch  conduct,  he  was  excluded  from  any 
chance  of  preferment,  and  was  exceedingly  out  of  hu- 
mour.    In  this  ftate  of  mind   he  was  in   a  fit  frame  for 
Illumination.     Spartacus  had  been  eyeing  him  for  fome 
time,  and  at  lad  communicated  this  honor  to  him  through 
the   hitcrmedium   of   Mauvillon,  another   Frenchman, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  in  the  fervice  of  the  Duke  of  Brunf- 
wick.     This   perfon   had   been   moil   active  during  the 
formal    exiftence  of  the  Order,  and   had   contributed 
much   to  its    reception  in   the    Proteftant  ftates — he  re- 
mained long  concealed.     Indeed  his  Illumination   was 
not  known  till   the  invafion  of   Holland  by  the  French 
rebels.      Mauvillon   then    ftepped    forth,    avowed   his 
principles,  and  recommended  the  example  of  the  French 
to  the  Germans.     This   encouragement   brought  even 
Philo  again  on  the  ftage,  notwithftanding  his  refentraent 
againit  Spartacus,  and  his  folemn  declaration  of  having 
abjured  all  fiich  focieties — Thefe,  and  a  thoufand  fuch 
fatts,  fiiow  that  the  feeds  of  licentious  Cofmo-politilVn 
l^a^  tiiken   deep  root,  aad  thtit  cutting  down  the  crop 


2i6  THE  GERMAN  UNIOIST. 

had  by  no  means  deftroyed  the  baneful  plant — But  this 
is  not  all — a  new  method  of  cultivation  had  been  iri>^ 
vented,  and  immediately  adopted,  and  it  was  now  grow- 
ing over  ail  Europe  in  another  form. 

I  have  already  taken  notice  of  the  general  perverfion 
of  the  public  mind  Vs'hich  co-operated  with  the  fchifms  of 
Free  Mafonry  in  procuring  a  liftening  ear  to  Spartacus 
and  his  afibciates.  It  will  not  be  doubted  but  that  the  ma- 
chinations of  the  lUuminati  encreafed  this,  even  among 
■  thofe  who  did  not  enter  into  the  Order.  It  was  eafier 
to  diminifii  the  refpeft  for  civil  eftablifhm.ents  in  Ger- 
many than  in  almoft  any  other  country.  The  frivolity 
of  the  ranks  |ind  court  oflrices  in  the  different  confede- 
rated petty  ftates,  made  it  impolfible  to  combine  dig- 
nity with  the  habits  of  a  fcanty  income. — It  was  ftill  ea- 
fier  to  expofe  to  ridicule  and  reproach  thofe  numberlefs 
abufes  which  the  folly  and  the  vices  of  men  had  intro- 
duced into  religion.  The  influence  on  the  public  mind 
which  naturally  attaches  to  the  venerable  office  of  a 
moral  inftruftor,  was  prodigioufly  diminiflied  by  the 
continual  difputes  of  the  Catholics  and  Proteftants, 
which  were  carried  on  with  great  heat  in  every  little 
principality.  The  freedom  of  enquiry,  which  was  fup- 
ported  by  the  fiatc  in  Protcftant  Germany,  was  terribly 
abufed  (for  what  will  the  folly  of  man  not  abufe)  and 
degenerated  into  a  wanton  licentioufnefs  of  thought,  and 
•a  rage  for  fpcculation  and  fcepticifm  on  every  fubj eft 
whatever.  The  ftrugole,  which  was  originally  between 
the  Catholics  and  the  Proteltants,  had  changed,  during 
the  gradual  progrefs  of  luxury  and  immorality,  into  a 
context  between  reafon  and  fuperftition.  And  in  this 
conteft  the  denomination  of  fuperftition  had  been  gra- 
dually extended  to  every  doftrine  v.hich  profeffed  to  be 
of  divinje  revelation,  •an4  reafon  was  decUredto  bcj  iox 


THE  GERMAN  UNIOI^.  217 

Certain,  the  only  way  in  which  the  Deity  can  inform  the 
human  mind. 

Some  refpeftable  Catholics  had  publilhed  works  fil- 
led with  liberal  ientiments.  Thefe  were  reprefented  as 
villanous  machinations  to  inveigle  Proteftants.-  On  the 
other  hand,  fome  Proteftant  divines  had  propofed  to 
imitate  this  liberality  by  making  conceflions  v/hich  might 
enable  a  good  Catholic  to  live  more  at  eafe  among  the 
Proteftants,  and  might  even  accelerate  an  union  of  faiths. 
This  was  hooted  beyond  meafure,  as  Jefuitical,  and 
big  with  danger.  While  the  fceptical  junto,  headed  by 
the  editors  of  the  Deutfche  Bihliothek  and  the  Berlin 
Monatfchrifi,  were  recommending  everjl^  pcribrmance 
that  was  hoftile  to  the  eftabliflred  faith  of  the  country, 
Leuchtfenring  was  equally  bufy,  finding  Jefuits  in  eve- 
ry corner,  and  went  about  with  all  the  inquietude  of  a 
madman,  picking  up  anecdotes.  Zimmerman,  the  re- 
fpeftable  phyfician  of  Frederick  King  of  Pruffia,  gives  a 
diverting  account  of  a  vifit  which  he  had  by  Leuchtfen- 
ring at  Hanover,  all  trembling  with  fears  of  Jefuits,  and 
wilhing  to  perfuade  him  that  his  life  was  in  danger  from, 
them.  Nicholai  was  now  on  the  hunt,  and  during  thii 
crufade  Philo  laid  hands  on  him,  being  introduced  to 
his  acquaintance  hy  Leuchtfenring,  who  was,  by  this 
time,  cured  of  his  zeal  for  Proteitantifm,  and  had  be- 
come a  difciple  of  Illumin-atifm.  Philo  had  gained  his 
good  opinion  by  the  violent  attack  which  he  had  pub- 
liflied  on  the  Jefuits  and  Rofycrucians  by  the^orders  of 
Spartacus. — He  had  not  far  to  go  in  gaining  over  Ni- 
cholai, who  was  at  this  time  making  a  tour  through  the 
Lodges.  The  fparks  of  Illumination  which  he  perceiv- 
ed in  many  of  them  pleafed  him  exceedingly,  and  he  ve- 
ry cheerfully  received  the  precious  feciet  from  Philo, 

D  d 


2i8  THE  GERMAN    UNION. 

This  acquifition  to  the  Order  was  made  in  January 
1782.  Spartacus  was  delighted  with  it,  conhdered  Ni- 
cholai  as  a  moft  excellent  champion,  and  gave  him  the 
name  of  Lucian,  the  great  fcoiTer  at  all  religion,  as  apt- 
ly expreffing  his  character. 

Nicholai,  on  his  return  to  Berlin,  publiflied  many  vo- 
lumes of  his  difcovcries.  One  would  imagine  that  not 
a  Jefuit  had  efcaped  him.  He  mentions  many  flrangc 
fchifmatics,  both  in  religion  and  in  Mafonry — but  he 
never  once  mentions  an  Illuminatus. — When  they  were 
firft  checked,  and  before  the  difcovery  of  the  fecret  cor- 
refpondence,  he  defended  them,  and  ftrongly  reprobated 
the  proceedings  of  the  Eleftor  of  Bavaria,  calling  it  vile 
perfecution — Nay,  after  the  difcovery  of  the  letters 
found  in  Zwack's  houfe,  he  pcrfifted  in  his  defence, 
vindicated  the  poircfTion  of  the  abominable  receipts,  and 
highly  extolled  the  charaQcr  of  Weifhaupt. — But  when 
the  difcovery  of  papers  in  the  houfe  of  Batz  informed 
the  public  that  he  himfelf  had  long  been  an  Illuminatus, 
he  was  fadly  put  to  it  to  reconcile  his  defence  with  any 
petentions  to  religion.* — Weifhaupt  laved  him  from  dif- 
grace,  as  he  thought,  by  his  publication  of  the  fyftem  of 
Illuminatifm — Nicholai  then  boldly  faid  that  he  knew  no 
more  of  the  Order  than  v;as  contained  in  that  book,  that 
is,  only  the  two  firft  degrees. 

'^'  He  impudently  pretended  that  the  papers  containing  the  fyf- 
tem tod  doiSrines  of  Illuminatifm^  cams  to  him  at  Berlin,  from 
ai-i  unknown  hand.  But  no  one  believed  him — it  was  inconfiftent 
with  wliat  is  faid  of  him  in  the  fecret  correfpondence.  He  had 
faid  the  fame  thing  concerning  the  French  tranflation  of  the  Letters 
on  the  Conftitution  of  the  Pruffian  States,  Fifty  copies  were 
found  in  his  ware-houfe.  He  faid  that  they  liad  been  fent  from 
Strafburg,  and  that  he  had  never  fold  one  of  tlicm. — Suppofmg 
bQth  thefe  aiTertions  to  be  true,  it  appears  that  Nicholai  was  confi- 
dered  as  a  very  proper  han^  for  difperfing  fuch  poifon. 


THE  GERMAN  UNIOxV:  219- 

But  before  this,  Nicholai  had  made  to  himfelf  a  mod 
formidable  enemy.  The  hiftory  of  this  conteft  is  curi- 
ous in  itfelf,  and  gives  us  a  ve:ry  inftru6live  picture  of 
the  machinations  of  that  conjuration  dts  p/ulofophes^  or 
gang  of  fcribblers  who  were  leagued  againil  the  peace  of 
the  world.  The  reader  will  therefore  find  it  to  our  pur- 
pofe.  On  the  authority  of  a  lady  in  Courland,  a  Count- 
ti's  von  der  Recke,  Nicholai  had  accufed  Dr.  Stark  of 
Darmftadt  (who  made  fuch  a  figure  in  Free  Mafonry) 
of  Jefuitifm,  and  of  having  even  fubmitted  to  the  tovfure. 
Stark  was  a  moft  refllefs  fpirit — had  gone  through  every 
myftcry  in  Germany,  llluminatifra  excepted,  and  had 
ferreted  out  many  of  Nicholai's  hidden  tranfaclions.  He 
was  alfo  an  unwearied  book-maker,  and  dealt  out'  thcfe 
difcoveries  by  degrees,  keeping  the  eye  of  the  public 
continually  upon  Nicholai.  He  had  fufpe6led  his  Illu- 
mination for  fome  time  pad,  and  when  the  fecret 
came  out,  by  Spartacus's  letter,  where  he  boafts  of  his 
acquifition,  calling  Nicholai  a  moft  fturdy  combatant, 
and  faying  that  he  was  contentijf'imiis.  Stark  left  no  (tone 
luuurned,  till  he  difcovered  that  Nicholai  had  been  ini- 
tiated in  all  the  horrid  and  moft  profligate  myfteries  of 
Illuminatifm,  and  that  Spartacus  had  at  the  very  firft 
ejitrufted  him  with  his  moft  darling  fecrets,  and  advifed 
with  him  on  many  occafions.* 

*  Of  this  wi  liave  complete  proof  in  the  private  correfpondence. 
Philo,  fpeakjng  in  one  of  his  letters  of  the  gradual  change  which 
was  to  be  produced  in  the  minds  of  their  pupils  from  Chriflianity 
to  Deij&n,  fays,  "  Nicholai  informs  me,  that  even  the  pious  Zolli- 
Jtofer  has  now  been  convinced  that  it  would  be  proper  to  fet  up  a 
deiftical  church  in  Berlin."  It  is  in  vain  that  Nicholai  fiys  that 
his  knowledge  of  the  Order  was  only  ofwliat  Weifhaupt  hiid  pub- 
liilied  ;  for  Philo  fays  tliat  that  correfled  {y9izm  had  not  been  in- 
troduced into  itv/henhe  quitted  it  in  1784.  But  Nicholai  deferves 
ro  credit— he  is  one  of  the  moft  fcandalous  examples  cfthe  opera- 
tion of  the  principhs  of  TVc-ilhaupt.     He  proaarid  admilliou  into 


^20  THE  GERMAN  UNION. 

This  complete  blading  of  his  moral  charaBer  cowld 
not  be  patiently  borne,  and  Nicholai  was  in  his  turn  the 
bitter  enemy  of  Stark,  and,  in  the  paroxyfras  of  his  an- 
ger, publiflied  every  idle  tale,  although  he  was  often 
obliged  to  contradi6l  them  in  the  next  Review.  In  the 
courfe  of  this  attack  and  defence,  Dr.  Stark  difcovered 
the  revival  of  the  lUuminati,  or  at  leaft  a  fociety  which 
carried  on  the  fame  great  work  in  a  fomewhat  different 
way. 

Dr.  Stark  had  written  a  defence  againft  one  of  Nicho- 
lai's  accufations,  and  wifhed  to  have  it  printed  at  Leip- 
zig. He  therefore  fent  the  manufcript  to  a  friend,  who 
refided  there.  This  friend  immediately  propofed  it  to 
a  moil  improper  perfon,  Mr.  Pott,  who  had  written  an 
anonymous  commentary  on  the  King  of  Prufiia's  edift 
for  the  uniformity  of  religious  worfliip  in  his  dominions. 
This  is  one  of  the  mod  fhamelefs  attacks  on  the  efta- 
blifhcd  faith"  of  the  nation,  and  the  authority  and  condu6t 
of  the  Prince,  that  can  be  imagined.  Stark's  friend  was 
ignorant  of  this,  and  fpoke  to  Pott,  as  the  partner  of  the 
great  publiflier  V/alther.  They,  without  he(it2:ion,  un- 
dertook the  publifliing  ;  but  when  iix  Vv^eeks  had  paflcd 

the  Lodges  of  Free  Mafons  and  Rofycrucians,  merely  to  ad  the 
difhonorable  part  cf  a  fpy,  and  he  betrayed  their  fecrets  as  far  as 
he  could.  In  the  appendix  to  the  7th  volume  of  his  journey,  he 
declaims  againft  the  Templar  Mafons,  Rofycrucians,  and  Jefuits, 
for  their  blind  fubmiffion  to  unknown  fuperiors,  their  fuperfti- 
tions,  their  prieftkoods,  and  their  hafe  principles — and  yet  had 
been  five  years  in  a  fociety  in  which  all  thefe  were  carried  to  the 
greateft  height.  He  remains  true  to  the  lUuminati  alone,  becaufe 
they  had  the  fame  objedl  in  view  with  himfelf  and  his  atheiftical  id- 
fociates.  His  defence  of  Proteftantifm  is  all  a  clieat  ;  and  perhaps 
he  may  beconfidered  as  an  enemy  equally  formidable  with  Weif- 
haupt  him.felf.  This  is  the  reaioa  v;hy  he  occupies  fo  many  of 
thefe  pages. 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  221 

over,  Stark's  friend  found  that  it  was  not  begun.  Some 
exceptionable  pafiages,  which  treated  with  difiepecil 
the  religion  ol"  Realbn,  were  given  as  the  caufe  of  delay; 
and  he  was  told  that  the  author  had  been  written  to  about 
them,  but  had  not  yet  returned  ananfwer.  This  was  af- 
terwards found  to  be  falfe.  Then  a  pafl'age  in  the  pre- 
face was  objecicd  to,  as  treating  roughly  a  lady  in  Cour- 
land,  which  Wakher  could  not  print,  becaufe  he  had 
connexions  with  that  court.  The  author  rnuft  be  en- 
treated to  change  his  expre(i;ons.  After  another  delay, 
paper  was  wanting.  The  MS.  was  withdrawn.  Wal- 
ther  now  faid  that  he  would  print  it  immediately,  and 
again  got  it  into  his  hands,  promifing  to  fend  the  fheets 
as  they  came  from  the  prefs.  Thefe  not  appearing  for 
a  long  time,  the  agent  made  e^iquiry,  and  found  that  it 
was  fciu  to  Michaclis  at  Halle,  to  be  printed  there.  The 
agent  immediately  went  thither,  and  found  that  it  was 
printing  with  great  alterations,  another  title,  and  a  guide 
or  key,  in  which  the  work  was  perverted  and  turned  into 
ridicule  by  a  Dr.  Bahrdt,  who  refidcd  in  that  neighbour- 
hood. An  atiion  of  recovery  and  damages  was  imme- 
diately commenced  at  Leipzig,  and  after  much  conteft, 
an  interdict  was  put  on  Michaclis's  edition,  and  a  proper 
edition  was  ordered  immediately  from  Walther,  with  fe- 
curity  that  it  fliould  appear  before  Bahrdt's  key.  Yet 
when  it  was  produced  at  the  next  fair,  the  bookfellers 
had  been  already  fupplied  with  the  i'purious  edition;  and 
as  this  was  accompanied  by  the  key,  it  was  much  more 
faleable  ware,  and  completely  fupplanted  the  other. 

This  is  furcly  a  flrong  indance  of  the  macliinations  by 
which  the  Illuminati  have  attempted  to  deftroy  the  Li- 
berty of  the  Prefs,  and  the  power  they  have  to  difcou- 
rage  or  fupprefs  any  thing  that  is  not  agreeable  to  the 
taile  of  the  lilera;y  junto.      It  was  in  the  courfe  of  this 


222  THE  GERMAN  UNION". 

tranfaftion  that  Dr.  Stark's  agent  found  people  talking 
in  the  cofFee-houfes  of  Leipzig  and  Halle  of  the  advan- 
tages of  public  libraries,  and  of  libraries  by  fubfcrip- 
tion,  in  every  town,  where  perforis  could,  at  a  fmall 
expence,  fee  what  was  palhng  in  the  learned  world.  x\s 
he  could  not  but  acquicfce  in  thefe  points,  they  who 
held  this  language  began  to  talk  of  a  general  Aflbcia- 
tion,  which  fhould  aCl  in  concert  over  all  Germany, 
and  make  a  full  communication  of  its  numerous  literary 
produQions,  by  forming  focieties  for  reading  and  in- 
IlruQ-ion,  which  fliould  be  regularly  fupplied  with  eve- 
ry publication.  Flying  Iheets  and  pamphlets  were  af- 
terwards put  into  his  hands,  dating  the  great  ufe  of  fuch 
an  Aflbciation,  and  the  effcft  which  it  would  fpeedily 
produce  by  enlightening  the  nation.  By  and  by  he 
learned  that  fuch  an  Aifociation  did  really  exift,  and  that 
it  was  called  the  German  union,  for  rooting  out 
Superstition  and  Prejudices,  and  advanc- 
ing TRUE  Christian  iTY.  On  enquiry,  however, 
lie  found  that  this  was  to  be  a  Secret  Society,  becaufe 
it  had  to  combat  prejudices  which  were  fupported  by 
the  great  of  this  world,  and  becaufe  its  aim  v»'as  to  pro- 
mote that  general  information  w^hich  priefts  and  defpots 
dreaded  above  all  things.  This  Aflbciation  was  acceffi- 
blc  only  through  the  reading  focieties,  and  oaths  of  fe- 
crecy  and  fidelity  were  required.  In  Ihort,  it  appeared 
to  be  the  old  fong  of  the  Illuminati. 

This  difcovery  was  immediately  annoimced  to  the 
public,  in  an  anonymous  publication  in  defence  of  Dr. 
Stark.  It  is  fuppofed  to  be  his  own  performance.  It 
difclofes  a  fcene  of  complicated  villany  and  folly,  in 
which  the  Lady  in  Courland  makes  a  very  ftrange  fi- 
gure. She  appears  to  be  a  wild  fanatic,  deeply  engag- 
ed in  magic  aed  gholl-raiiingj  and  leagued  with  Nieh6- 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  223 

ki,  Gedicke,  and  Biefter,  againft  Dr.  Stark.  Pie  is 
very  completely  cleared  of  the  fafts  alledged  againft 
him  ;  and  his  three  male  opponents  appear  void  of  all 
principle  and  enemies  of  all  religion.  Stark  however 
•would,  in  Britain,  be  a  very  fingular  chara61er,  confi- 
dered  as  a  clergyman.  The  frivolous  fecrets  of  Mafon- 
ry  have  either  engrolTed  his  whole  mind,  or  he  has  la- 
boured in  them  as  a  lucrative  trade,  by  which  he  took 
advantage  of  the  folly  of  others.  The  conteft  between 
Stark  and  the  Triumvirate  at  Berlin  engaged  the  public 
attention  much  more  than  we  fi;iould  imagine  t!T5.t  a 
thing  of  fo  private  a  nature  would  do.  But  the  charac- 
ters were  very  notorious  j  and  it  turned  the  attention  of 
the  public  to  thofe  clandeftine  attacks  which  were  made 
in  every  quarter  on  the  civil  and  religious  eftablifhments. 
It  was  obvious  to  every  perfon,  that  thefe  reading  foci- 
eties  had  all  on  a  fudden  become  very  numerous  ;  and 
the  characters  of  thofe  who  patronifed  them  only  increaf- 
ed  the  fufpicions  which  were  now  raifed. 

The  hrfl  work  that  fpcaks  exprefsly  of  the  German 
Union,  is  a  very  fenfible  performance  "  On  the  Right 
cf  Princes  to  dircB  the  Religion  of  their  fiibj eels ^  The 
next  is  a  curious  work,  a  fort  of  narrative  Dialogue  on 
the  CharaBers  of  Nicholai,  Gedicke,  and  Biejler.  It  is 
chiefly  occupied  with  the  contell  with  Dr.  Stark,  but  iij 
the  5th  part,  it  treats  particularly  of  the  German  Union. 

About  the  fame  time  appeared  fomc  farther  account, 
in  a  book  called  Archives  cf  Fanaticifm  and  Hhniiinq.- 
tifm.  But  all  thefe  accounts  are  very  flight  and  ur.fatis- 
fattory.  The  fulleft  account  is  to  be  had  in  a  work 
publifhed  at  Leipzig  by  Gofchen  the  bookfeller.  It  is 
entitled  "  More  Notes  than  Text,  or  the  Gerraan  Union 
of  XXI L^  a  ncv^  Secret  Scciciyforthe  QoQd  0/ Mankind i" 


224  THE  GERMAN  UNION. 

Leipzig,  1789.  The  publiflier  fays,  that  it  was  fent 
him  by  an  unknown  hand,  alid  that  he  pubhfhed  it  with 
all  fpeed,  on  account  of  the  many  mifchiefs  which  this 
Society  (of  which  he  had  before  heard  feveral  reports) 
ir-ight  do  to  the  world,  and  to  the  trade,  if  allowed  to 
ro  Oil  workini^  in  fecret.  From  this  work,  therefore, 
-we  may  form  a  notion  of  this  redoubtable  Society,  and 
judge  how^  far  it  is  prafticable  to  prevent  fuch  fecret  raa- 
thiiiations  againft  the  peace  and  happinefs  of  mankind. 

There  'is  another  work,  "  Further  Information  con- 
cerning the  German  Union  (Nahere  Beleuchtung  der 
Deutfche  Union)  alfo  fli owing  how ^ for  a  7noderate  price, 
one  may  become  a  Scotch  Free  Mafnn.''  Frankfort  and 
Leipzig,  17B9.  The  author  fays  that  he  had  all  the  pa- 
pers, in  his  hands  ;  whereas  the  author  of  More  Notes 
than  Text  acknowledges  the  want  of  fome.  But  very 
little  additional  light  is  thrown  on  the  fubje6l  by  this 
•work,  and  the  firft  is  ftill  the  mofl  inftruftive,  and  will 
chiefly  be  followed  in  the  account  which  is  now  to  be 
laid  before  the  reader. 

The  book  More  Notes  than  Text  contains  plans  and 
letters,  which  the  Twenty-two  United  Brethren  have  al- 
lowed to  be  given  out,  and  of  which  the  greatell  part 
tvere  printed,  but  w^ere  entrulted  only  to  allured  mem- 
bers. 

No.  I.  is  the  firfl  plan,  printed  on  a  fmgle  quarto 
page,  and  is.addreffed,  To  all  the  Friends  of  Reafon,  of 
Tridh,f  and  of  Virtue.  It  is  pretty  well  written,  and 
ftatcs  among  other  things,  that  "  becaufe  a  great  num- 
ber of  perfons  are  labouring,  with  united  effort,  to 
bring  Reafon  under  the  yoke,  and  to  prevent  all  inftruc- 
iion.it  h  therefore  neceffdrv  that  there  be  a  combination 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  225 

Vv'hich  fliall  work  in  oppofition  to  them,  fo  that  man- 
kind may  not  fink  anew  into  irrecoverable  barbarifm, 
when  Reafon  and  Virtue  fliall  have  been  completely  fub- 
dued,  overpowered  by  the    reftraints  which  are  put  on 

our  opinions." "  For  this  noble  purpofe  a  company 

of  twenty-two  perfons,  public  inftruQors,  and  men  in 
private  llations,  have  united  themfelves,  according  to  a 
plan  which  they  have  had  under  confideration  for  more 
than  a  year  and  a  half,  and  which,  in  their  opinion,  con- 
tains a  method  that  is  fair,  and  irrefiftable  by  any  human 
power,  for  promoting  the  enlightening  and  forming  o£ 
mankind,  and  that  will  gradually  remove  all  the  obfta- 
cles  which  fuperftition  fupported  by  force  has  hitherto 
put  in  the  way." 

This  addrefs  is  intended  for  an  enliiling  advertifement, 
and,  after  a  few  infignificant  remarks  on  the  Alfociation, 
a  rix-dahler  is  required  along  with  the  fubfcription  of  ac- 
quiefcence  in  the  plan,  as  a  compenfation  for  the  expen- 
ces  attending  this  mode  of  intimation  and  confent. 

Whoever  pays  the  rix-dahler,  and  declares  his  wifh  to 
join  the  Aflbciation,  receives  in  a  few  days  No.  II, 
which  is  a  form  of  the  Oath  of  fecrecy,  alfo  printed  on 
a  fingle  4to  page.  Having  fubfcribed  this,  and  given  a 
full  defignation  of  himfelf,  he  returns  it  agreeably  to  a 
certain  addrefs  ;  and  foon  after,  he  gets  No.  III.  print- 
ed on  a  4to  flieet.  This  number  contains  what  is  called 
the  Second  Plan,  to  which  all  the  fubfequent  plans  and 
circular  letters  refer.  A  copy  therefore  of  this  will  give 
us  a  pretty  full  and  juft  notion  of  the  Order,  and  its 
mode  of  operation.     It  is  entitled. 


E  e 


22(5  THE  GERMAN  UNIOM. 

The  Plan  cj  the  Twenty-Two, 

And  begins  with  this  declaration.  "  We  have  iinired, 
in  order  to  accomplifii  the  aim  of  the  exalted  P^ounder 
of  Chrin:ianity,  viz.  the  enlightening  of  mankind,  and  the 
dethronement  of  fuperftition  and  fanaticifm,  by  means 
of  a  fecret  fraternization  of  all  who  love  the  work  of 
God. 

*'  Our  firft  exertion,  which  has  already  been  very  ex.- 
tenfive,  conlilts  in  this,  that,  by  means  of  confidential 
perfons,  we  allow  ourfelves  to  be  announced  every  where 
as  a  Society  united  for  the  above-mentioned  purpofe  ; 
and  we  invite  and  admit  into  brotherhood  with  ourfelves 
every  perfon  who  has  a  fenfe  of  the  importance  of  this 
matter,  and  wifhes  to  apply  to  us  and  fee  our  plans. 

"  We  labour  firll  of  all  to  draw  into  our  Affociation 
all  good  and  learned  writers.  *  This  we  imagine  will  be 
the  eafier  obtained,  as  they  mufl  derive  an  evident  ad- 
vantage from  it.  Next  to  fuch  men,  we  feek  to  gain  the 
.maflers  and  fecretaries  of  the  Poft-ofRces,  in  order  to  fa- 
cilitate our  correfpondence. 

"  Befides  thefe,  we  receive  perfons  of  every  conditiori 
and  Ration,  excepting  princes  and  their  miniilers.  Their 
favorites,  however,  may  be  admitted,  and  may  be  ufeful 
by  their  influence  in  behalf  of  Truth  and  X'irtue. 

"  When  any  perfon  writes  to  us,  we  fend  him  an  oath, 
by  which  he  mull  abjure  all  treachery  or  difcovery  of 
the  Aflociation,  till  circumflances  Ihall  make  it  proper 
for  us  to  come  forward  and  fliow  ourfelves  to  the  world. 
\yhen  he  fubfcribes  the  oath,  he  receives  the  plan,  and 
if  he   finds  this  to   be  what  latisfies  his  mind  as  a  thing 


THE  GERMAN  UxVION. 


•2  2  7 


good  and  honorable,  he  becomes  our  iViend  only  in  fo 
far  as  he  endeavours  to  gain  over  his  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances. Thus  we  learn  who  are  really  our  zealous 
friends,  and  our  numbers  incrcafe  in  a  doable  propor- 
tion. 

"  This  procedure  is  to  continue  till  Providence  fhall 
fo  far  blefs  our  endeavours,  that  we  acquire  an  a8ive 
Brother  and  coadjutor  in  every  place  of  note,  where  there 
is  aiiy  literary  profefiion  ;  and  for  this  purpofe  we  have 
a  fecretary  and  proper  oHice  in  the  centre  of  the  Aflbci- 
ation,  where  every  thing  is  expedited,  and  all  reports  re- 
ceived. When  this  happy  epoch  arrives,  we  begin  our 
fecoad  operation,"  That  is  to  fay, 

"  We  intirriate  to  all  the  Brotherhood  in  every  quar- 
ter, on  a  certain  day,  itA^^  THE  German  Union  has 
■noio  acquired  a  con/ijience,  and  we  now  divide  the  frater- 
nifed  part  of  the  nation  into  ten  or  twelve  Provinces  or 
Diocefes,  each  direfted  by  its  Dioccfan  at  his  office  i 
and  thefe  are  fo  arranged  in  due  fubordination,  that  all 
bufinefs  comes  into  the  Union-house  as  into  the  cen- 
tre of  the  whole. 

"  Agreeably  to  this  manner  of  proceeding  there  are 
two  clalfes  of  the  Brotherhood,  the  Ordinary^  and  the 
Managing  Brethren.  The  latter  alone  know  the  ajm  of 
the  Aifociation,  and  all  the  means  for  attaining  it ;  and 
they  alone  conftitute  the  Un  ion,  the  n:iHie,  and  the 
connexion  of  which  is  not  intended  to  be  at  ail  conlpi- 
cuous  in  the  world. 

"  To  this  end  the  bufmefs  takes  a  new  extcrnrd  form^ 
The  Brethren,  to  wit,  fpeak  not  of  tlie  Union  in  the  pla. 
ces  whore  they  rclidc,  nor  of  a  Soci-jiyj  nor  of  enli>^hten- 


228  THE  GERMAN  UNION. 

ing  the  people  ;  but  they  affemble,  and  acl  together  in 
every  quarter,  merely  as  a  Literary  Society,  bring 
into  it  all  the  lovers  of  reading  and  of  ufeful  knowledge i 
and  fuch  in  fafcl  are  the  Ordinary  Brethren,  who  only 
know  that  an  Aflbciation  exiils  in  their  place  of  refir 
dence,  for  the  encouragement  of  literary  men,  but  by  no 
means  that  it  has  any  connexion  with  any  other  fimilar 
Society,  and  that  they  all  conflitute  one  whole.  But 
thefe  Societies  will  naturally  point  out  to  the  intelligent 
Brethren  fuch  perfons  as  are  proper  to  be  felefted  for 
carrying  forward  the  great  work.  For  perfons  of  a  fe- 
rious  turn  of  mind  are  not  mere  loungers  in  fuch  com- 
pany, but  (how  in  their  converfation  the  intereft  they 
ta^e  in  real  inftruBipn.  And  the  call  of  their  reading, 
"which  mud  not  be  checked  in  the  beginning  in  the  fmall- 
ell  degree,  although  it  may  be  gradually  direfted  to  pro- 
per fubje6ls  of  information,  will  point  out  in  the  moft 
unequivocal  manner  their  peculiar  ways  of  thinking  on 
the  important  fubjcfts  connecled  with  our  great  objeft. 
Here,  tiierefore,  the  a6Uve  Brethren  will  obferve  in  fe- 
cret,  and  will  feleO:  thofe  whom  they  think  valuable  ac- 
quifitions  to  the  facred  Union.  They  will  invite  fuch 
perfons  to  unite  with  themfelves  in  their  endeavours  to 
enlighten  the  reft  of  mankind,  by  calling  their  attention 
to  profitable  fubjefts  of  reading,  and  to  proper  books. 
^Reading  Societies,  therefore,  are  to  be  formed  in  every 
quarter,  and  to  be  furniflied  with  proper  books.  In  this 
provifion  attention  muft  be  paid  to  two  things.  The. 
tafte  of  the  public  muft  be  complied  with,  that  the  Soci- 
ety may  have  any  e{fe6l  at  all  in  bringing  men  together 
v'ho  are  born  for  (bmewhat  more  than  jufl  to  look  about 
them.  But  the  general  tade  may,  and  muft  alfo  be  care- 
fully and  ftvilfully  direfted  to  fubjccls  Uvdt  will  enlarge 
the  comprehenfion,  v»'ill  fortify  the  heart,  and,  by  habitu- 
ating the  mind  to  novelty,  and  to  fuccci^ful    difcovery, 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  12 

both  in  phvfics  and  in  morals,  will  hinder  the  timid  from 
being  Itartled  at  do6lrines  and  maxims  which  are  hngu- 
lar,  or  perhaps  oppohte  to  thofe  which  are  current  in  or- 
dinary iociety.  Commonly  a  man  (peaks  as  if  he  thought 
he  was  uttering  his  own  fentiments,  while  he  is  only  echo- 
ing the  general  found.  Our  minds  are  dreffed  in  a  pre- 
vailing fafhion  as  much  as  our  bodies,  and  with  (luff  as 
little  congenial  to  fentiment,  as  a  piece  of  woollen  cloth 
is  to  the  human  flcin.  So  carelefs  and  indolent  are  men, 
even  in  what  they  call  ferious  converlation.  Till  reflec- 
tion becomes  a  habit,  what  is  really  a  thought  ftartles, 
however  fimple,  and,  if  really  uncommon,  itaftonifhes 
and  confounds.  Nothing,  therefore,  can  fo  powerfully 
tend  to  the  improvement  of  the  human  chara6ler,  as  well 
managed  Reading  Societies. 

"  When  thefe  have  been  eflabliflied  in  different  pla- 
ces, we  mud  endeavour  to  accomplifh  the  following  in- 
termediate plans  :  1.  To  introduce  a  general  literary 
Ga-zette  or  Review,  v.'hich,^  by  uniting  all  the  learned 
Brethren,  and  combining  with  judgment  and  addrefs  all 
their  talents,  and  lleadily  proceeding  according  to  a 
diftinft  and  precife  plan,  may  in  time  fupplant  every 
other  Gazette,  a  thing  which  its  intrinfic  merit  and  com- 
prehenlive  plan  Vi/ill  eahly  accomplifli.  2.  To  felecl  a 
fccretary  for  our  Society,  who  Ihall  have  it  in  charge  to 
conjmiilion  the  books  wiiich  they  fhall  felecl  in  confor- 
mity to  the  great  aim  of  the  Affociation,  and  who  fhali 
undertake  to  coininiilion  all  other  books  for  the  curious? 
in  his  neighbourhood.-  If  there  be  a  booki'cller  in  the 
place,  who  can  be  gained  over  and  fworn  into  the  So- 
ciety, it  will  be  proper  to  choofe  him  for  this  office, 
hnce,  as  will  be  made  more  plain  afterwards,  the  trade 
will  gradually  come  into  the  plan,  and  fall  mio  the  hands 
of  the  Union. 


C30  THE  GERMAN  UNION. 

"  And  now,  every  eye  can  perceive  the  progrefTive 
moral  inilueiice  which  the  Union  will  acquire  on  the  na- 
-tion.  Let  us  only  conceive  what  fuperltition  will  lofe, 
and  what  inftruttion  mult  gain  by  this;  when,  i.  In  eve- 
ry Reading  Society  the  books  are  felefted  by  our  Frater- 
nity. 2.  When  we  have  confidential  perfons  in  every 
quarter,  who  will  make  it  their  ferious  concern  to  foread 
fuch  performances  as  promote  the  enlightening  of  man- 
kind, and  to  introduce  them  even  into  every  cottage. 
3.  When  we  have  the  loud  voice  of  the  public  on  our 
iide,  and  fmce  we  are  able,  either  to  fcout  into  the  lliade 
all  the  fanatical  writings  which  appear  in  the  reviews  that 
are  commonly  read,  or  to  warn  the  public  again  ft  them ; 
and,  0:1  the  other  hand,  to  bring  into  notice  and  recom- 
mend ihofe  performances,  alone  which  give  light  to  the 
human  mind.  4.  When  Vv'C  by  degrees  bring  the  whole 
trade  of  bookfcUing  into  our  hands  (as  the  good  writers 
w'ill  bring  all  their  performances  into  the  market  through 
our  means)  we  fliall  bring  it  about,  that  at  laft  the  wri- 
ters who  labour  in  the  caufe  of  fuperftition  and  refiraint, 
will  have  neither  a  publilher  nor  readers.  5.  When, 
laflly,  by  the  fpreading  of  our  Fraternity,  all  good 
hearts  and  fenfible  men  will  adhere  to  us,  and  by  our 
means  will  be  put  in  a  condition  that  enables  them  to 
work  in  filcnce  upon  all  courts,  families,  and  indivi_ 
duals  in  every  quarter,  and  acquire  an  influence  in  the 
appointment  of  court-officers,  llewards,  fecretariesij  pa- 
ii!h-pric(ls,  public  teachers,  and  private  tutors. 

'-  Remark,  That  we  fnall  fpeedily  get  the  trade  into 
ovir  hands  (which  was  formerly  the  aim  of  the  affocia- 
tion  called  the  GeleJirtenbuchhandlung)  is  conceivable 
by  this,  that  every  writer  v.'ho  unites  with  us  immedi- 
ately acquires  a  triple  number  of  readers,  and  finds 
fiiends  in  every  place  who  promote  the  fale  of  his  per- 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  23.1 

formance ;  fo  that  his  gain  is  increafed  manifold,  and 
confequently  all  will  quit  the  bookfeliers,  and  accede  to 
us  by  degrees.  Had  the  above-named  airociation  been 
conftrucled  in  this  manner,  it  would,  long  ere  now, 
have  been  the  only  fliop  in  Germany." 

The  book  called  Fuller  Information^  Sec.  gives  a  more 
particular  account  of  the  advantages  held  forih  to  the  li- 
terary manufacturers  of  Germany  by  this  Unionyc?-  God's 
■work.  The  clafs  of  literary  Brothers,  or  writers  by 
trade,  v/as  divided  into  Mejopolites^  Aldermen,  Men, 
and  Cadeti. 

The  Mesopolites,  or  Metropolitans,  are  to  be  at- 
tached to  the  archive-office,  and  to  be  taken  care  of  in 
the  Union-Houfe,  when  in  ftraits  throwgh  age  or  mis- 
fortune. They  will  be  occupied  in  the  department  of 
the  fciences  or  arts,  which  this  Afibciation  profcfies 
principally  to  cherilh.  They  are  alfo  Brethren  of  the 
third  degree  of  Scotch  Free  Mafonrv,  a  qualification  to 
be  explained  afterwards.  The  Uriion-Houfe  is  a  baiU;- 
ing  v/hich  the  oftenhble  Founder  of  the  Union  profelfed 

to   have  acquired,  or    fpeedily  to   acquire    at , 

through  the  favor  and  proteclion  of  a  German  Prince, 
who  is  not  named. 

Aldermen  are  perfons  who  hold  public  offices,  and 
are  engaged  to  exercife  their  genius  and  talents  in  the 
fciences.  Thefe  alfo  are  Brothers  of  the  third  rank  of 
Scotch  Free  Mafonry,  and  out  of  their  number  are  the 
Diocefans  and  the  Diredors  of  the  Readin^^  Societies 
feletled. 

The  members  who  are  defigned  fimply  Me\,  are 
Brothers  of  the  iecond  rank  of  Mafonry,  and  have  alio 
a  definite  fcicntiftc  occupaiion  alTigncd  them. 


2^2  THE  GERMAN  UNION. 

The  Cadets  are  writers  who  have  not  yet  merited 
any  particular  honors,  but  have  exhibited  fufficient  dif- 
pofitionsand  talents  for   different  kinds  of  Hterary  ma- 

iiufadure. 

Every  member  is  bound  to  bring  the  produ6lions  of 
his  genius  to  market  through  the  Union.  An  Alderman 
receives  for  an  original  work  80  percent,  of  the  returns, 
and  70  for  a  tranfjation.  The  member  of  the  next  clafs 
receives  60,  and  the  Cadet  50.  As  to  the  expence  of 
printing,  the  Alderman  pays  nothing,  even  though  the 
work  fhould  lie  on  hand  unfold  ;  but  the  Ma7i  and  the 
Cadet  muft  pay  one  half.  Three  months  after  publica- 
tion at  the  fairs  an  account  is  brought  in,  and  after  this? 
yearly,  when  and  in  what  manner  the  author  fliall  defire. 

In  every  diocefe  will  be  eUablifned  at  leafl  one  Read- 
ing Society,  of  which  near  800  are  propofed.  To  each 
of  thefe  will  a  copy  of  an  Alderman  s  work  be  fent.  The 
fame  favor  will  be  fiiown  to  a  differtation  by  a  Man,  or 
by  a  Cadet,  provided  that  the  manufcript  is  documented 
by  an  Alderman,  or  formally  approved  by  him  upon 
ferious  perufal.  This  impriviatur,  which  muft  be  con- 
ficlered  as  a  powerful  recommendation  of  the  v.'ork,  is 
to  be  publifhed  in  the  General  Review  or  Gazette.  This 
is  to  be  a  vehicle  of  political  as  well  as  of  literary  news ; 
and  it  is  hoped  that,  by  its  intrinfic  worth,  and  the  re- 
commendation of  the  members,  it  will  foon  fupplant  all 
others.  (With  refpcft  to  affairs  of  the  Union,  a  fort  of 
cypher  was  to  be  employed  in  it.  Each  Diocefan  was 
there  defigned  by  a  letter,  of  a  fize  that  marked  his  rank, 
and  each  member  by  a  number.  It  uas  to  appear  week- 
ly, at  the  very  fmall  price  of  five  ahd-tvv'cnty  fhillings.} 
— But  let  us  return  to  the  plan. 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  S33 

When  every  thing  has  been  eftablifiied  in  the  manner 
fet  forth  above,  the  Union  will  aflume  the  following  re- 
publican form  (the  reader  always  recolleding  that  this  is 
not  to  appear  to  the  world,  and   to  be  known  only  to 

the  managing  Brethren.} 

Here,  however,  there  is  a  great  blank.  The  above- 
named  (Icetch  of  this  Conftitution  did  not  come  to  the 
hands  of  the  perfon  who  furniflied  the  bookfeller  with 
the  reft  of  the  information*  But  we  have  other  docu- 
ments which  give  fufficient  information  for  our  purpofe. 
In  the  mean  time,  let  us  juft  take  the  papers  as  they 
ftand. 

No.  tV.  Contains  a  lifl;  of  the  German  Union,  which 
the  fender  received  in  manufcript.  Here  we  find  many 
names  which  we  fhould  not  have  expeded,  and  mifs 
many  that  were  much  more  likely  to  have  been  partners 
in  this  patriotic  fcheme.  There  are  feveral  hundred 
names,  but  very  few  defignations;  fo  that  it  is  difficult 
to  point  out  the  individuals  to  the  public.  Some  how- 
ever are  defigned,  and  the  writer  obferves  that  names  are 
found,  which,  when  applied  to  fome  individuals  whom 
he  knows,  accord  furprihngly  with  the  anecdotes  that 
are  to  be  feen  in  the  private  correfpondence  of  the  Illu- 
minati,  and  in  the  romance  called  Materials  for  the  Hif- 
tory  of  Socratifm  (Illuminatifm.*j     It  is  but  adifagrec- 

*  This,  by  the  by,  is  a  very  curious  and  entertaining  work,  and, 
had  the  whole  affair  been  better  known  in  this  country,  would  have 
been  a  much  better  antidote  againft  the  baneful  effefts  of  that  Af- 
fociation  than  any  thing  that  I  can  give  to  the  public,  being  writ- 
ten with  much  acutenefs  and  knowledge  of  the  human  mind,  and 
agreeably  diverfiSed  with  anecdote  and  ironical  exhibition  of  the  af- 
feifted  wifdcan  and  philanthropy  of  the  knavifh  Founder  and  his  co« 

F  f 


«34  'i'-^  GERMAN  UNlO>?. 

iibic  rcniaik,  that  the  lid  of  the  Union  coiuain^i;  the 
names  of  many  public  teachers,  both  from  the  pulpit^ 
and  from  the  academic  chair  in  all  its  degrees  ;  and 
among  thefe  are  feveral  whofe  cyphers  fhow  that  they 
have  been  aLtive  hands.  Some  of  thefe  have  in  their, 
writings  given  evident  proofs  of  their  mifconception  of 
the  fimple  truths,  whether  dogmatical  or  hiftorical,  of 
revealed  religion,  or  of  their  inclination  to  twift  and  ma-, 
nufaclure  thera  fo  as  to  chime  in  with  the  religion  and 
morality  of  the  Sages  of  France.  But  it  is  more  dillref- 
fmg  to  meet  with  unequivocal  names  of  fome  who  pro- 
fefs  in  their  writings  to  confider  thefe  fubjecls  as  an  ho- 
nelt  man  fhould  confider  them,  that  is,  according  to  the 
plain  and  common  fenfe  of  the  words  ;  whereas  we  have 
demondrative  proofs  that  the  German  Uwion  had  the 
iliametrically  oppoiite  purpofe  in  view.  The  only  fe- 
male in  the  lift  is  the  Grafin  von  der  Recke,  the  lady 
who  o;ave  Dr.  Stark  of  Darmftadt  fo  much  trouble  about 
His  Tonfure.  This  Lady,  as  we  have  already  feen, 
could  not  occupy  herfelf  with  the  frivolities  of  drefs, 
flirtation,  or  domeftic  cares.  ''•  Femina  front e  patet^  vir 
peBore."  She  was  not  pleafed  however  at  finding  her 
name  in  fuch  a  Plebein  lift,  and  gave  oath,  along  with 
Biefter  at  the  centre,  that  Ihe  was  not  of  the  Aflociation. 
I  fee  that  the  public  was  not  fatisfied  with  this  denial. 
The  Lady  has  publiflied  fome  more  fcandal  againft 
Stark  hnce  that  time,  and  takes  no  notice  of  it  ;  and 
there  have  appeared  many  accounts  of  very  ferious  litc_ 
rary  connc8.ions  between  thefe  two  perfons  and  the  man 
who  was  afterwards  difcovered  to  be  the  chief  agent  of 
the  Union. 

a'4jutors.  If  the  prefent  imperfed  and  defultory  account  lliall  be- 
laund  to  intereft  the  public,  I  doubt  not  but  that  a  tranflation  of 
this  ixcvel,  and  fom£  other  fanciful  performances  ori  tlic  fuhj-;i"J,-- 
will  be  read- with  entertainment  aj:ad. profit. 


THE  GERMAN  UNlOxNT.  235 

"No.  V.  is  an  important  document.      It  is  a  letter  ad- 
'dreffed  to  the  fworn  members  of  the  Union,  reminding 
the  beloved  fellow-workers  that    "  the  bygone  manage- 
ment of  the  buiinefs  has   been  expenfive,  and  that  the 
XXII.  do  not  mean  to  make  any  particular  charge  for 
their  own  compenfation.     But  that  it  was  necellary  that 
all  and  each  of  the  members  fhould  know  precifely   the 
obje6l  of  the  Aflociation,  and  the  way  whith  mature  con- 
fideration  had  pointed  out  as  the  mod  elfe&lual   method 
of  attaining  this  objeft.      Then,  and  not  till  then,  could 
the  worthy  members  aft.  by  one  plan,  and   confequently 
with  united  force.     To  accomplifli  this  purpofe,  one  of 
their  number  had  compofed  a  I'reatife  on  In/i}"u&;io')i,  and 
the  vuans  of  -provioting  it."*     Tiiis  work  has  ban  revi- 
■fed  by  the  whoie  number,  and  may  be  confidered  as  the 
refult   of  their   decpeft.  reflexion..     Tl>ey    fay,   that  'it 
Avould  be  a  fignal  misfortune  fliould  this  Alfociation^  this 
undertaking,  fo  important  for  thehappinefs  of  mankind, 
be   cramped  in  the   very  beginning  of  its  brilliant  pro- 
•grefs.      They  therefore  propofc  to  print  this  v/ork,   this. 
Holy  Scripture  of  tlieir  faith  and  prafrice,  by  fubfcrip- 
•tion.     (They    here  give  a  fhort  account  of  the  work.) 
And  they  requeft  the   members  to  encourage  the  work 
'by  fubfcribing  and  by  exerting  more  than  their  ufuai  ac- 
tivity in  procuring  fubfcriptions,  and  iik  recommending 
•the  performance  in  the  oewfpapers.      Four  perfons  are 
named  as   Diocefans,    who  are   to  receive   the   money, 
which   they  beg  m.ay  be   fpeedily  advanced  in   order  to 
purchafe  paper,  that  the  work  may  be  rt  ady  for  the  fiiil 
-fair  (Eaflcr  1788.) 


*  Urler  Avvv'^J..\-^v^o  und  dercn  Bsfirdenwgs-M'lfic^,  The  Ot^Ij 
proper  trantl.ition  ofthLs  word  would  be,  clearing  uj>,0"  c;iiig'.h\-nir^^ 
IrJlrtiSllon  feems  the.fingle  ■word  diat  comes  ne.-u-ell  to  the  pvccile 
aneanmg  oLy^tifklarung^  but  is  not  fyncnymoas. 


saS  THE  GERMAN  UNION. 

No.  VI.  is  a  printed  paper  (as  is  No.  V.)  without 
date,  farther  recommending  the  Effay  on  Inftru6lion', 
No.  VII.  is  in  manufcript,  without  date.  It  is  addref-. 
fed  to  "  a  worthy  man,"  intimating  that  the  like  ai^e  fent 
to  others,  to  whom  will  alfo  fpeedily  be  forwarded  an 
improved  plan,  with  a  requeft  to  cancel  or  deftroy  the  for- 
mer contained  in  No,  III,  It  is  added,  that  the  Union 
now  contains,  among  many  others,  more  than  two  hun- 
dred of  the  moft  refpeftable  perfons  in  Germany,  of  eve- 
ry rank  and  condition,  and  that  in  the  courfe  of  the  year 
(1788)  a  general  lift  will  be  fent,  with  a  requeft  that  the 
receiver  will  point  out  fuch  as  he  does  not  think  worthy 
of  perfect  confidence.  It  concludes  with  another  re- 
commgjidation  of  the  book  on  Injiruclion,  on  the  returns 
from  which  firft  work  of  the  German  Union  the  fuppoxt 
of  the  fecretary's  office  is  to  depend. 

Accordingly  No.  VIII,  contains  this  plan,  but  it  is 
not  entitled  The  Improved  Plan.  Such  a  denomination 
would  have  called  in  doubt  the  infallibility  of  the  XXXI, 
It  is  therefore  called  the  FrogreJJive  (Vorlaufig)  plan,  a 
title  which  leaves  room  for  every  fubfequent  change.  It 
differs  from  the  former  only  in  fome  unimportant  cir- 
camftances.  Some  expreffions,  which  had  given  offence 
or  raifed  fufpicions,  are  foftened  or  cancelled.  Two 
copies  of  this;,  which  we  may  call  A  and  B,  are  given, 
differing  alfo  in  fome  circumftances. 

"  The  great  aim  of  the  German  Union,  is  the  good 
of  mankind,  which  is  to  be  attained  only  by  means  of 
mental  Illumination  (Auffklarung)  and  the  dethroning 
of  fanaticifm  and  moral  defpotifm."  Neither  paper  has 
the  expreffion  which  immediately  followed  in  the  former 
plan,  "  that  this  had  been  the  aim  of  the  exalted  Founder 
of  Chriftianity."  The  paper  A  refers,  on  the  prefent  fub^ 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  237 

je61,  to  a  clifTertation  printed  in  1787  without  a  name. 
On  the  Freedom  of  the  Prejs,  and  its  Lwiitation.  This. 
is  one  of  the  mod  licentious  pieces  that  has  been  pub- 
lifhed  on  the  fubjeft,  not  only  enforcing  the  mod  un~ 
qualified  liberty  of  publifhing  every  thing  a  man  pleafcs, 
but  exemplifying  it  in  the  mod  fcandalous  manner  ;  li- 
belling charatlers  of  ev^ery  fort,  and  perfons  of  every 
condition,  and  this  frequently  in  the  moft  abufive  lan- 
guage, and  expreffions  fo  coarfe,  as  diewed  the  author 
to  be  either  habituated  to  the  coarfefl  company,  or  de- 
termined to  try  boldly  once  for  all,  what  the  public  eye 
can  bear.  The  piece  goes  on  :  "  The  Union  confidcrs 
it  as  a  chief  part  of  its  fecret  plan  of  operation,  to  include 
the  trade  of  book  felling  in  their  circle.  By  getting  hold 
of  this,  they  have  it  in  their  power  to  encrealc  the  num- 
ber of  writings  which  promote  inilruclion,  and  to  lelTer. 
that  of  thofe  which  mar  it,  fince  the  authors  of  the  lat- 
ter will  by  degrees  lofe  both  their  publilhers  and  their 
readers.  That  the  prefent  bookfellers  may  do  them  no 
harm,  they  will  by  degrees  draw  in  the  greater  part  of 
them  to  unite  wath  them." — The  literary  nevv'fpaper  is 
here  ilrongly  infilled  on,  and,  in  addition  to  what  was 
faid  in  the  former  plan,  it  is  faid,  "  that  they  will  irp. 
elude  political  news,  as  of  mighty  influence  oil >he  pub- 
lic mind,  and  as  a  fubjeB:  that  merits  the  ciofeii  atten- 
tion of  the  moral  inftructor."  For  whaC||bM3Tin^ion  is 
that  mind  fufceptible  of,  that  is  fo  blinded^^  the  preju- 
dice created  and  nurfed  by  the  habits  of  civil  fubordina- 
tion,  that  it  worfliips  ftupidity  or  wickednefs  under  a 
coronet,  and  neglects  talents  and  virtue  under  the  bear- 
fkin  cap  of  the  boor.  We  muft  therefore  reprefent  po- 
litical tranfaBions,  and  public  occurrences,  not  as  they 
affetl  that  artificial  and  fantaltical  creature  of  imagina- 
tion that  we  lee  every  where  around  us,  wheeled  about 
in  a  chariotj  but  as  it  aft'ects  a  man,  rational,  adivcj 


23?  THE  GERMAN  UNIOiY. 

.frccbornman.  By  thus  Gripping  the  tranfaftion  of  all 
foreign  circumftances,  we  fee  it  asit  affefts,  or  ought  to 
affect  ourfelves.  Be  alTured  that  this  new  form  of  poli- 
■tical  intelligence  will  be  highly  interefting,  and  that  the 
Gazette  of  the  Union  will  foon  fuperfede  all  others,  and, 
of  itfelf,  will  defray  all  our  neceifary  expences." 

This  is  followed  by  fome  allufions  to  a  fecret  corref- 
pondence  that  is  quick,  unfufceptible  of  all  difcovery  or 
treachery,  and  attended  with  no  expence,  by  which  the 
bufinefs  of  die  fecret  plan  (different  from  either  of  thofe 
communicated  to  the  fivorn  Brethren  at  large)  is  carried 
on,  and  which  puts  the  nnembers  in  a  condition  to  learn 
every  thing  that  goes  on  in  the  world,  for  or  againft  their 
caufe,  and  aifo  teaches  them  to  know  mankind,  to  gain 
an  influence  over  all,  and  enables  them,  eitedually  to 
promote  their  beft  fubjecls  into  all  offices.  Sec.  and  fi- 
nally, from  which  every  member,  whether  fiatefmen, 
merchant,  or  writer,  can  draw  his  own  advantages.  Some 
pafiages  here  and  in  another  place,  make  me  imagine 
that  the  Union  hoped  to  get  the  command  of  the  polt- 
offices,  by  having  their  Brethren  in  the  direPiion. 

It  is  then  faid,  that  "  it  is  fuppofed  tha^  the  levy  will 
be  fufficiently  numerous  in  the  fpring  of  the  enfuing  year. 
Whe^i  thidA|K  place,  a  general  fynod  will  be  held,  in 
■which  t^i^tm^  of  fecret  operations  will  be  finally  adjuft- 
ed,  and  accommodated  to  local  circumRances,  fo  as  to 
be  digefted  into^  law  that  will  need  no  farther  alteration. 
A  proper  perfon  will  fet  off  from  this  fynod,  with  full 
powers,  to  vifit  every  quarter  where  there  arc  fworn 
Brethren,  and  he  will  there  eftablifli  a  Lodge  after  the 
ancient  limple  ritual,  and  will  communicate  verbally  ti>e 
plan  of  fecret  operation,  a.nd  certain  inftru8ions,  Thefe 
Lodges  will   then  eftablilh  a  managmg  fund  or   box. 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  239 

Each  Lodge  will  alfo  eilablifli  a  Reading  Society,  under 
tlie  management  of  a  bookfcllcr  refiding  in  the  place,  or 
of"  fome  peiTon  acquainted  with  the  mechanical  conduct 
of  things  of  this  nature.  There  mud  alfo  be  a  colletlor' 
and  agent  (Expediieur)  fo  that  in  a  moment  the  Union 
will  have  its  offices  or  coviptoirs  in  every  quarter,  through 
which  it  carries  oijUhe  trade  of  bookfelling,and  guides  the 
ebb  and  How  of  its  correfpondence.  And  thus  the  wliole 
machine  will  be  fet  in  motion,  and  its  aclivi-ty  is  all  di-; 
reBed  from  the  centre." 

I  remark,  that  here  w-e  have  not  that  exclufion  of 
Princes  and  minifters  that  was  in  the  former  plan  ;  (hey 
are  not  even  mentioned.  The  exclusion  in  cxprefs 
terms  could  not  but  furprife  people,  and  appear  forae- 
w'hat  fufuicicus. 

i. 

No.  IX.  is  a  printed  circular  letter  to  the  fworn  Bre- 
thren, and  is  fubfcribed  "  by  their  truly  afTociated  Bro- 
ther Barthels,  Oberamtfman  (t^.rft  bailiff)  for  the  King  of 
PruiLa,  at  Halle  on  the  Saai." 

In  this  letter  the  Brethern  are  informed  that  "  the 
XXII.  were  wont  to  meet  forr.etimes  at  Kaile,  and' 
fometimes  at  Berlin.  Biu,  unavoidable  circumllances 
oblige  them  not  only  to  remain  concealtdior  fome  time, 
but  even  to  give  up  their  relation  to  the  Union,  and 
withdraw  thcmfelves  from  any  fliare  in  its  proceedings. 
Thefe  circumllances  arc  but  temporary,  and  will  be 
completely  explained  in  due  time.  They  trufl.  hov.  c- 
vcr,  that  this  neceffary  (lep  on  their  part  will  not  abate 
the  zeal  andatlivity  of  men  of  noble  minds,  engaged  ii¥ 
tjie  caufe  by  the  conviftion  of  their  own  hearts.  They 
have  therefore  communicated  to  their  wcvthy  Brother 
Bahthels   all  neceffary  informationsj  and  have  uiuuii- 


2.10  THE  GERiMAN  UNIONf.. 

rnQuily  conferred  on  him  the  direflion  of  the  fccretary's- 
office,  and  have  provided  him  with  every  document  and 
mean  of  carrying  on  the  correipondence.  He  has  de^ 
voted  himfelf  to  the  honorable  office,  giving  up  all  other 
employments.  They  obfcrve  that  by  this  change  in  the 
manner  of  proceeding,  the  Affiociation  is  freed  from  an 
objetlion  made  with  juftice  to  all  oth^  fecret  focieties? 
namely,  that  the  members  fubjetl  themfelves  to  blind 
and  unqualified  fubmiffion  to  unknown  iuperiors." — - 
"  The  Society  is  now  in  the  hands  of  its  own  avowed 
members.  Every  thing  will  foon  be  arranged  according 
to  a  con ilitu lion  purely  republican  ;  a  Diocefan  will 
be  chofen,  and  will  diretl  in  every  province,  and  report 
to  the  centre  every  fecond  month,  and  in{lru£lions  and 
other  informations  will  ifme  in  like  manner  from  the 
centre. 

"  If  this  plan  fhall  be  approved  of  by  the  Affociafed, 
H.  Barthels  will  tranfmit  to  all  the  Diocefes  general  lifts 
of  the  Union,  and  the  Plan  of  Secret  Operation, 
the  refult  of  deep  meditation  of  the  XX 11.  and  admira- 
bly calculated  for  carrying  on  with  irrefiftible  effi^B  their 
noble  and  patriotic  plan.  To  flop  all  cabal,  and  put  an 
citd  to  all  flander  and  fufpicion,  H.  Barthels  thinks  it 
proper  that  the  Union  Ihall  Sep  forward,  and  declare  it- 
feif  to  the  world,  and  openly  name  fome  of  its  moft  ref- 
pectable  members.  The  public  muft  however  be  in- 
formed onlv  with  refpetl  to  the  exterior  of  the  Society, 
for  which  purpofe  he  had  written  a  flieet  to  be  annexed 
as  an  appendix  to  the  work,  On  Instruction,  de- 
claring that  to  be  the  work  of  the  Society,  and  a  fuffici- 
ent  indication  of  its  moil  honorable  aim.  He  defires 
luch  members  as  choofe  to  ffiare  the  honor  with  him,  to 
fend  him  their  names  and  proper  defignations,  that  they 
may  appear  in  that  appendix.     And,  laftly,  he  requefts 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  ^41 

tKem  to  inftruB:  him,  and  co-operate  with  him,  accord- 
ing to  the  concerted  rules  of  the  Union,  in  promoting 
the  caufe  of  God  and  the  happinefs  of  mankind." 

The  Appendix  now  alluded  to  makes  No.  X.  of  the 
packet  fent  to  the  Bookfeller  Gofchen  of  Leipzig,  and 
is  dated  December  1788.  It  is  alfo  found  in  the  book 
On  Inftru^ion,  Sec.  printed  at  Leipzig  in  1789,  by 
■Walther.  Here,  however,  the  Appendix  is  dated  Ja- 
nuary 1789.  This  edition  agrees  in  the  main  with  that 
in  the  book  from  which  I  have  made  fuch  copious  ex-" 
trafts,  but  differs  in  fome  particulars  that  are  not  un- 
worthy of  remark. 

In  the  packet  it  is  written,  "  The  underjigned,  as 
Member  and  Agent  of  the  German  Union.,  in  order  to 
reftify  feveral  miftakes  and  injurious  flanders  and  accu- 
sations, thinks  it  neceffary  that  the  public  itfelf  fhould 
judge  of  their  objeft  and  condu8;." — Towards  the  end 
it  is  faid,  "  and  all  who  have  any  doubts  may  apply  to 
thole  named  below,  and  are  invited  to  write  to  them.'* 
No  names  however  are  lubjoined.— -In  the  appendix  to 
the  book  it  is  only  faid,  "  the  agent  of  the  German  U- 
nion,  Sec  and  "perfons  who  wifh  to  be  better  informed 
inay  write  to  the  agent,  under  the  addref?.  To  the  Ger- 
man Union — under  cover  to  the  fliop  of  Walther,  book- 
feller in  Leipzig." — Here  too  there  are  no  names,  and 
it  does  not  appear  that  any  perfon  has  chofen  to  come 
from  behind  the  curtain.* 

*  V7alth.er  is  an  eminent  bookfeller,  and  carries  on  the  bufmers 
of  publifhing  to  a  great  extent,  both  at  Leipzig  and  other  places. 
He  was  the  publiflier  of  the  moll  virulent  attacks  on  the  King  of 
'  Pruffia's  Edid  on  Religion,  and  was  brought  into  much  troubls; 
about  the  Commentary  by  Pott  wiiich  is  mentioned  above.  He 
alfo  publilhes  many  of  the  fceptical  and  licentious  writings  which 
have  {q  much  diHurbed  the  peace  cf  Germauy. 

G  g 


a42  THE  GERMAN  UNION. 

There  has  already  been  fo  much  faid  about  Enlight- 
ening, that  the  reader  mud  be  almoft  tired  of  it.  He  is 
affured  in  this  performance  that  the  Illumination  propof- 
ed  by  the  Union  is  not  that  of  the  Wolfenbuttle  Frag- 
ments, nor  that  of  Horus,  nor  that  of  Bahrdt.  The 
■Frcgments  and  Horus  are  books  which  aim  direflly,  and 
without  any  concealment,  to  deftroy  the  authority  of 
eur  Scriptures,  either  as^  hiftorical  narrations  or  as  reve- 
lations of  the  intentions  of  providence  and  of  the  future 
profpefts  of  man.  The  Theological  writings  o^  Bahrdt 
are  grofs  perverfions,  both  of  the  fenfe  of  the  text,  and 
of  the  moral  inftru8;ions  contained  in  it,  and  are  per- 
haps the  moft  exceptionable  performances  on  the  fubje6i; 
They  are  ftigmatifed  as  abfurd,  and  coarfe,  and  indecent, 
even  by  the  writers  on  the  fame  fide  ;  yet  the  work  re- 
commended fo  often,  as  containing  the  elements  of  that 
Illumination  which  the  world  has  to  expeft  from  the 
Union,  not  only  coincides  in  its  general  principles  with 
thefe  performances,  but  is  almoft  an  abftraft  of  fome  of 
them,  particularly  of  his  Popular  Religion,  his  Para- 
phrafe  on  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  and  his  Morality 
OF  Religion.  We  have  alfo  feen  that  the  book  on 
the  Liberty  of  the  Prefs  is  quoted  and  recommended  as 
an  elementary  book.  Nay,  both  the  work  on  Inilru£li- 
on  and  that  on  the  Liberty  of  the  Prefs  are  now  known 
to  be  Bahrdt's. 

But  thefe  principles,  exceptionable  as  they  may  be,, 
are  probably  not  the  worft  of  the  inftitution.  We  fee 
that  the  outjide  alone  of  the  Union  is  to  be  fhewn  to  the 
public.  Barthels  felicitates  the  public  that  there  is  no 
fubordination  and  blind  obedience  to  unknown  fuperi- 
ors  ;  yet,  in  the  fame  paragraph,  he  tells  us  that  there 
is  a  fecret  plan  of  operations,  that  is  known  only  to  the 
Centre,  and  the  Confidential  Brethroi.     The  authot  o^ 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  243 

WuUer  Information  fays  that  he  has  this  plan,  and  would 
print  it,  were  he  not  reftrained  by  a  promife.*  He 
gives  us  enough  however  to  fliow  us  that  the  higher  myf- 
teries  of  the  Union  arc  precifely  the  fame  with  thofe  of 
the  lUuminati.  Chriftianity  is  exprefsly  faid  to  have 
been  a  Myftical  Alfociation,  and  its  founder  the  Grand 
Mafter  of  a  Lodge.  The  Apoilles,  Peter,  James,' 
John,  and  Andrew,  were  the  Elect,  and  Brethren  of 
the  Third  Degree,  and  initiated  into  all  the  myfleries. 
The  remaining  Apoftles  were  only  of  the  Second  De- 
gree ;  and  the  Seventy-Two  were  of  the  Firft  Degree.' 
•Into  this  degree  ordinary  Chriftians  may  be  admitted, 
and  prepared  for  further  advancement.     The  great  myf- 

tery    is,  that   J C was  a   Naturalist,  and 

taught  the  doClrine  of  a  Supreme  Mind,  the  Spe8ator,' 
but  not  the  Governor  of  the  World,  pretty  nearly  in  the 
fenfe  of  the  Stoics.  The  Initiated  Brethren  were  to  be 
inftru6led  by  reading  proper  books.  Thofe  particularly 
recommended  are  Bafedozo's  PraBical  Knowledge^  Eber- 
hard's  Apology  for  Socrates,  Bahrdt's  Apology  for  Rea- 
fon,  SteinbaYdVs  Syftem  of  Moral  Education,  Mein^r's 
Ancient  Mjfieries,  Bahrdt's    Letters    on   the  Bible,  and 

Bahrdt's    Completion  of  the   Plan  and   Aim  of  J 

C .     Thefe  books  are  of  the  moft  Antichriftian  cha- 

rader,  and  fome  of  them  aim  at  fhaking  off  all  moral 
obligation  whatever. 

Along  with  -thefe  religious  do6lrines,  are  inculcated 
the  moll  dangerous  maxims  of  civil  conduct.  The  del- 
potifm  that  is  aimed  at  over  the  minds  of  men,  and  the 
machinations  and  intrigues  for  obtaining  poffeflion  of 
places  of  truft  and  influence,  are  equally  alarming,,  but- 
being  perfedly  fimilar  to  thofe  of  the  Illumiiiati,  it  is 
needlefs  to  mention  them. 

*  This  I  find  to  be  falfe,  and  the  book  a  common  joI>. 


344  THE  GERiMAN  UNION. 

The  chief  intelligence  that  we  get  from  this  author  is 
that  the  Centre  of  the  Union  is  atahoufein  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Halle.  It  is  a  fort  of  tavern,  in  a  vineyard 
immediately  without  the  city.  This  was  bought  by 
Doctor  Karl  Friederich  Bahrdt,  and  fitted  up 
for  the  amufement  of  the  Univerfity  Students,  He 
calls  itBAHRDT's  RuHE  (Bahrdt's  Repofe.)  The  au- 
thor thinks  that  this  mud  have  been  the  wc«-k  of  the  Af- 
fociation,  becaufe  Bahrdt  had  not  a  farthing,  and  was 
totally  unable  for  fuch  an  undertakmg.  He  may  how- 
ever have  been  the  contriver  of  the  inftitution.  He  has 
never  affirmed  or  denied  this  in  explicit  terms ;  nor  has 
he  ever  faid  who  are  the  XXII  coadjutors,  Wucherer, 
an  eminent  bookfeller  at  Vienna,  feems  to  have  been 
one  of  the  moil  aftive  hands,  and  in  one  year  admitted 
near  200  members,  among  v/hom  is  his  own  fhoemaker. 
He  has  publiflied  fome  of  the  moll  profligate  pamphlets 
which  have  yet  appeared  in  Germany. 

The  publication  of  the  lift  of  members  alarmed  the 
nation  ;  perfons  were  aftonifhed  to  find  themfelves  in 
every  quarter  in  the  midft  of  villains  who  were  plotting 
againft  the  peace  and  happinefs  of  the  country,  and  de- 
flroying  every  fentiment  of  religion,  morality,  or  loyalty. 
Many  perfons  publilhed  in  the  newfpapers  and  literary 
journals  affirmations  and  proofs  of  the  falfe  infertion  of 
their  names.  Some  acknowledged  that  curiofity  had 
made  them  enter  the  Alfociation,  and  even  continue 
their  correfpondence  with  the  Centre,  in  order  to  learn 
fomething  of  what  the  Fraternity  had  in  view,  but  de- 
clared that  they  had  never  taken  any  part  in  its  proceed- 
ings. But,  at  the  fame  time,  it  is  certain  that  many 
Reading  Societies  had  been  fct  up,  during  thefe  tranf. 
aflions,  in  every  quarter  of  Germany,  and  that  the  of- 
tenfible  managers  were  in  general  of  very  iufpicious  cha- 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  245 

rasters,  both  as  to  morals  and  loyalty.  The  Union  had 
aftually  fct  up  a  prefs  of  their  own  at  Calbe,  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Halberftadt.  Every  day  there  ap- 
peared ftronger  proofs  of  a  combination  of  the  Journal- 
ilts,  Reviewers,  and  even  of  the  publifliers  and  book- 
fellers,  to  fupprefs  the  writings  which  appeared  in  de- 
fence of  the  civil  and  ecclelialtical  conftitutions  of  the 
States  of  Germany.  The  extenhve  literary  manufa6liire 
of  Germany  is  carried  on  in  fuch  a  manner  that  it  is  im- 
poffible  for  any  thing  lefs  than  the  joint  operation  of  the 
whole  federated  powers  to  prevent  this.  The  fpirit  of 
free  thinking  and  innovating  in  religious  matters  had 
been  remarkably  prevalent  in  the  dominions  of  the  King 
of  Pruflia,  having  been  much  encouraged  by  the  indif- 
ference of  the  late  King.  One  of  the  vileft  things  pub^ 
lifhed  on  this  occafion  was  an  abominable  farce,  called 
the  Religion  EdiB:.  This  was  traced  to  Bahrdt's  Ruhe, 
and  the  Dottor  was  arrefled,  and  all  his  papers  feized 
and  ranfacked.  The  civil  Magiflrate  was  glad  of  an 
opportunity  of  expifcating  the  German  Union^  which 
common  fame  had  alfo  traced  hither.  The  correfpon- 
dence  was  accordingly  examined,  and  many  difcoverici 
were  made,  which  there  was  no  occafion  to  communi- 
cate to  the  public,  and  the  profecution  of  the  bufinef'j 
of  the  Union  was  by  this  means  Hopped.  But  the  pcr- 
fons  in  high  office  at  Berlin  agree  in  faying  that  the  Af 
fociation  of  writers  and  other  turbulent  perfons  in  Ger- 
many has  been  but  very  faintly  hit  by  this  blow,  and  is 
almoll  as  aftive  as  ever. 

The  German  Union  appears  a  mean  and  precipitate 
Affociation.  The  Centre,  the  Archives,  and  the  Secre- 
tary are  contemptible.  All  the  Archives  that  wer« 
found  were  the  plans  and  lifts  of  the  members  and  a  par- 
cel of  letters  of  correfpondence.     The  correlpondcnce 


S46  THE  GERMAN  UNION, 

?ind  other  bufinefs  was  managed  by  an  old  man  in  fomc 
•very  inferior  office  or  judicatory,  who  lived  at  bed  and 
board  in  Bahrdt's  houfe  for  about  fix  fhillings  a  week, 
liaving  a  cheft  of  papers  and  a  writing  defic  in  the  corner 
of  the  common  room  of  the  houfe. 

Bahrdt  gives  a  long  narration  of  his  concern  in  the 
siiair,  but  we  can  put  litde  confidence  in  what  he  fays  ; 
yet  as  we  have  no  better  authority,  I  fhall  give  a  very 
ihoYt  abltratl  of  it  as  follows. 

He  faid,  thai  he  learned  Cofmo-poiitical  Free  Mafon- 
iry  in  England,  when  he  was  there  getting  pupils  for  his 
^academy — but  neglefted  it  on  his  return  to  Germany. 
Some  time  after  his  fettlement  he  was  roufed  by  a  viiit 
from  a  ftranger  who  pafled  for  an  Englifiiman  ;  but 
whom  he  afterwards  found  to  be  a  Dutch  officer — (he 
:gives  a  defcription  which  bears  confiderable  refemblance 
to  the  Prince  or  General  Salms  who  gave  fo  much  dif- 
turbance  to  the  States-General) — He  was  iViW  more  ex- 
cited by  an  anonymous  letter  giving  him  an  account  of 
a  Society  which  was  empioyed  in  the  inftrutlion  of  man- 
l^ind,  and  a  plan  of  their  mode  of  operations,  nearly  the 
fame  with  that  of  No.  111. — He  then  fet  up  a  Lodge  of 
Free  Mafonry  on  Cofmo-political  principles,  as  a  pre- 
paration for  engaging  in  this  great  plan — he  was  flopped 
by  the  National  Lodge,  becaufe  he  had  no  patent  from 
it. — This  obliged  him  to  work  in  fecret. — He  met  with 
a  gentleman  in  a  cofFce-houfe,  who  entreated  him  to  go 
on,  and  promifed  him  great  affifiance — this  he  got  from 
lime  to  time,  as  he  ftood  mod  in  need  of  it,  and  he  now 
found  that  he  was  working  in  concert  with  many  pow- 
erful though  unknown  friends,  each  in  his  own  circle. 
The  plan  of  operation  of  the  XXII  was  gradually  un- 
folded to  him,  and  he  got   folemn  promifes  of  bemg 


THE  GERM'AN  UNIOM.  S4g 

made  acquainted  widi  his  colleagues — But  he  now  found,, 
that  after  he  had  fo  effentially  ferved  their  noble  caufe, 
he  \va.s  dropped  by  them  in  the  hour  of  danger,  and  thus 
was  made  the  facrifice  for  the  public  good..  The  lafi 
packet  which  he  received  was  a  req^ueft  from  a  Friend  to 
the  Union  to  print  two  performances  fen t  him,  with  a 
promife  of  lOO  dahlers  for  his  trouble. — Thefe  were  the 
abominable  farce  called  the  Religion  £di^,  and  fbme 
DilTertations  on  that  Royal  Proclamation. 

He  then  gives  an  account  of  his  fyftem  of  Free  Ma- 
fonry,  not  very  different  from  Weifliaupt's  Mafonic 
Chrillianity — and  concludes  with  the  following  abliraO: 
of  the  advantages  of  the  Union — Advancement  of  Sci- 
ence — A  general  intereft  and  concern  for  Arts'  and 
Learning — Excitement  of  Talents — Check  of  Scribbling? 
— Good  Education — Liberty — Equality — Hafpitality 
— Delivery  of  many  from  Misfortunes — Union  of  the 
Learned — and  at  lad — perhaps — Amen.. 

What  the  meaning  of  this  enigmatical  conclafion  is  we 
ean  only  guefs — and  our  eonjeftmes  cannot  be  very  fa- 
vorable. 

The  narration,  of  which  this  is  a  very  fhort  index,  is- 
abundantly  entertaining;  but  the  opinion' of  the  mo  ft 
intelligent  is,  that  it  is  in  a  great  meafure  fiBitious,  and 
that  the  contrivance  of  the  Union  is  moitly  his  own- 
Although  it  could  not  be  legally  provad  that  he  was  the 
author  of  the  farce,  every  perfon  in  court  was  convinced 
that  he  was,  and  indeed  it  is  perfe6lly  in  Bahrdt's  verj? 
lingular  manner. — This  invalidates  the  whqle  of  his  Ilo^ 
ry — and  he  afteiv/ards  acknowledges  the  farce  (at  leait 
by  implication}  in  feveral  writing^s,  and  boalis  ol  iu 


248  THE  GERMAN  UNION. 

For  thefe  reafons  I  have  omitted  the  narration  in  de- 
tail. Some  information,  however,  which  I  have  re- 
ceived fince,  feems  to  confirm  his  account,  while  it  di- 
ininifhes  its  importance.  I  now  find  that  the  book  call- 
ed Fuller  Information  is  the  performance  of  a  clergyman 
■called  Schiitz,  of  the  lowed  clafs,  and  by  no  means  of 
an  eminent  charafler — Another  performance  in  the  form 
■of  a  dialogue  between  X,  Y,  and  Z,  giving  nearly  the 
fame  account,  is  by  Pott,  the  dear  friend  of  Bahrdt 
and  of  his  Union,  and  author  of  the  Commentary  on 
ihe  Edift.  Schutz  got  his  materials  from  one  Roper, 
an  expelled  ftudent  of  debauched  morals,  who  fubfifted 
by  copying  and  vending  filthy  raanufcripts.  Bahrdt 
■fays,  that  he  found  him  naked  and  iiarving,  and,  out 
of  pity,  took  him  into  his  houfe,  and  employed  him  as 
an  araanuenfis.  Roper  ftole  the  papers  at  various  times, 
taking  them  with  him  to  Leipzig,  whither  he  went  on 
pretence  of  ficknefs.  At  lafl  Schutz  and  he  went  to 
Berlin  together,  and  gave  the  information  on  which 
Bahrdt  was  put  in  prifon.  In  fliort  they  all  appear  to 
have  been  equally  profligates  and  traitors  to  each  other, 
and  exhibit  a  dreadful,  but  I  hope  a  ufeful  picture  of 
the  influence  of  this  Illumination  which  fo  wonderfully 
fafcinates  Germany. 

This  is  all  the  direft  information  that  I  can  pick  up 
of  the  founder  and  the  proceedings  of  the  German  Uni- 
on. The  projetl  is  coarfe,  and  palpably  mean,  aiming 
at  the  dahlers  of  dntry -money  and  of  annual  contribution, 
and  at  the  publication  and  profitable  fale  of  Dr.  Bahrdt's 
books.  .  This  circumftance  gives  it  ftrong  features  of 
"its  parentage. — Philo  fpeaks  of  Bahrdt  in  his  Final  De- 
claration in  terras  of  contempt  and  abhorrence.  There 
is  nothing  ingenious,  nothing  new,  nothing  enticing,  in 
the  plans ;  and  the  immediate  purpofe  of  indulging  the 


THE  GERMAN  UNION*  245 

licentious  tafte  of  the  public  comes  fo  frequently  before 
the  eye,  that  it  bears  all  the  marks  of  that  groffnefs  of 
mind,  precipitancy,  and  impatient  overfight  that  are  to 
be  found  in  all  the  voluminous  writings  of  Dr.  Bahrdt. — ■ 
Many  in  Germany,  however,  afcribe  the  Union  to 
Weifliaupt,  and  fay  that  it  is  the  Illuminati  w^orking  in 
another  form.  There  is  no  denying  that  the  principles, 
and  even  the  manner  of  proceeding,  are  the  fame  in 
every  elfential  circumftance.  Many  paragraphs  of  the 
declamations  circulated  through  Germany  with  the  plans, 
are  tranfcribed  verbatim  from  Weifliaupt's  Corr^^cd 
Syjlem  of  Illuminatifm.  Much  of  the  work  On  Injlruc-- 
tio7i,  and  the  Means  for  promoting  ii,  is  very  nearly  a 
copy  of  the  fame  work,  blended  with  flovenly  extracts 
from  fome  of  his  own  writings — There  is  the  fame  feries 
of  delufions  from  the  beginning,  as  in  Illuminatifm— -- 
Free  Mafonry  and  Chriftianity  are  compounded — firll 
tvith  marks  of  refpe6l — then  Chrifliianity  is  twifted  to 
a  purpole  foreign  from  it,  but  the  fame  with  that  aimed 
at  by  Weifliaupt — then  it  is  thrown  away  altogether,  and 
Natural  Religion  and  Atheifm  fubftituted  for  it — For 
no  perfon  will  have  a  moment's  hefitation  in  faying,  that 
this  is  the  creed  of  the  author  of  the  books  On  Inflruc- 
tion  and  On  the  Liberty  of  the  Prefs.  Nor  can  he  doubt 
that  the  political  principles  are  equally  anarchical  with 
thofe  of  the  Illuminati. — The  endeavours  alfo  to  get 
pofleffion  of  public  offices,  of  places  of  education — • 
of  the  public  mind,  by  the  Reading  Societies,  and  by 
publications —  are  fo  many  tranfcripts  from  the  Illumi- 
Tiati.—- Add  to  this,  that  Dr.  Bahrdt  was  an  lUuminatus — ■ 
and  wrote  the  Better  than  Horus,  at  the  command  of 
Weifliaupt. — Nay,  it  is  well  known  that  Weifliaupt  was 
twice  or  thrice  at  Eahrdt's  Ruhe  during  thofe  tranfa6ti- 
oi;is.  and  that  he  zealoufly  promoted  the  formation  of 

'h  h        - 


S50  THE  GERMAN  UNIONv 

Reading  Societies  in  feveral  places. — But  I  am  rathert 
of  the  opinion  that  Weilhaupt  made  thofe  vifits  in  order 
to  keep  Dr.  Bahrdt  within  fome  bounds  of  decency,  and 
to  hinder  him  from  hurting  the  caufe  by  his  precipi- 
tancy, when  fpurred  on  by  the  want  of  money.  Weif- 
haupt  could  not  work  in  fuch  an  unfliilful  manner.  But 
he  would  be  very  glad  of  fuch  help  as  this  coarfe  tool 
could  give  him — and  Bahrdt  gave  great  help ;  for,  when 
he  w^as  imprifoned  and  his  papers  feized,  his  Archives,  as 
he  called  them,  fliewed  that  there  were  many  Reading 
Societies  which  his  projed  had  drawn  together.  The 
Pruffian  States  had  above  thirty,  and  thenumber  of  read- 
ers was  aftonifhingly  great — and  it  was  found,  diat  the 
pernicious  books  had  really  found  their  way  into  every 
hut.  Bahrdt,  by  defcending  a  (lory  lower  than  Weif- 
hauptj  has  gjeatly  increafed  the  number  of  his  pupils. 

But,  although  I  cannot  confider  the  German  Union 
a«  a  formal  revival  of  the  Order  under  another  name,  I 
mull  hold  thofe  United^  and  the  members  of  thofe  Read- 
ing Societies,  as  Illuminati  and  Mincrvals.  I  mufl 
even  confider  the  Union  as  a  part  of  Spartacus's  work. 
The  plans  of  Weifliaupt  were  partly  carried  into  effeft  in 
their  different  branches — they  were  pointed  out,  and 
the  way  to  carry  them  on  are  diftinftly  defcribed  in  the 
private  correfpondence  of  the  Order — It  required  little 
genius  to  attempt  them  in  imitation.  Bahrdt  made  the 
attempt,  and  in  part  fuccceded.  Weilhaupt's  hopes 
were  well  founded — The  leaven  was  not  only  diftributed, 
but  the  management  of  the  fermentation  was  now  un- 
derftood,  and  it  went  on  apace. 

It  is  to  be  remarked,  that  nothing  was  found  among 
Bahrdt's  papers  to  fupport  the  ftory  he  writes  in  his  di- 
ary—no fuch  correfpondcnces — but  enouoh  for  deted- 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  251; 

jng  many  of  thcfe  focieties.     Many  others  however  were 
found   unconneQed   with  Bahrdt's  Ruhe,  not  of  better 
charafter,  either  as  to  Morality  or   Loyalty,  and  fome 
of  them  confiderable  and  -expenfivc;  and  many  proofs 
were   found  of  a  combination  to  force  the  public   to  a 
certain  way  of  thinking,  by  the  management  of  the  Re- 
views and  Journa-Is.     The  extenfivc  dealing?  of  Nicho- 
lai  of  Berlin  gave  liim  great  weight  in  the  book-making 
trade,  which  in  Germany  furpafles  all  our  conceptions. 
The   catalogues   of  n€w  writings  in  fheets,  which  are 
printed  twice  a-year  for  each  of  the  fairs  of  Leipzig  and 
Frankfort,  would  aftonifli  a  Britilh  reader  by  the  num- 
ber.    The  bookfellers  meet  there,  and  in  one  glance  fee 
the  whole  republic  of  literature,  and,  like  Roman  fena- 
tors,  decide  the  fentiments   of  diftant  provinces.     By 
thus  feeing   the  whole  together,  their   fpeculations   are 
national,  and  they  really  have  it  in  their  power   to  give 
what  turn  they  pleafe  to  the  literature  and  to  the   fenti- 
ments of  Germany.   Still  however  they  muft  be  induced 
by  motives.     The  motive   of  a  merchant  is  gain,  and 
every  objeft  appears  m  his  eye  fomething  by  which  mo- 
ney may  be  made.  Therefore  in  a  luxurious  and  volup- 
tuous  nation,   licentious    and  free-thinking  books   will 
abound.     The  writers  fuggeft,  and  the  bookfellers  tbink 
-how  the  thing   will   tickle.     Yet  it  mud  not  be  inferred 
from  the  prevalence  of  fuch  books,  that  fuoh  is  the  com- 
mon fenfe  of  mankind,  and  that  the  writings  are  not  the 
corrupters,  but  the  corrtipted,  or  that  they  are  what  they 
ought  to  be,  becaufe  they  pleafe  the  public.      We  need 
only  pufh  the  matter  to  an  extremity,  and  its  caufe  ap- 
pears plain.     Filthy  prints   will  always   create  a  greater 
crowd  before  the  fiiop  window  than   the  Iineft  perform- 
ances of  Woollet.     Licentious  books  will  be  read  with 
a  fluttering  eagernefs,  as  long  as  they  are  not  univerfally 
permitted  ;  and  pitiable  will   be  tl>c  (late  of  the  natioa 


Ef^a  THE  GERMAN  UNION. 

when  their  number  makes  them  familiar  and  no  longer 
entertaining. 

But  although  it  mufl:  be  confefTed  that  great  encou^ 
ragem.ent  was  given  to  the  fceptical,  infidel,  and  licen- 
tious writings  in  Germany,  we  fee  that  it  was  dill  necef- 
fary  to  pra6life  fedu6lion.  The  religioniji  was  made  to 
expeO;  fome  engaging  exhibition  of  his  faith.  The  Ci^ 
tizen  muft  be  told  that  his  civil  connexions  are  refpeBed, 
and  will  be  improved  ;  and  all  are  told  that  good  man- 
ners or  virtue  is  to  be  fupported.  Man  is  fuppofed  to 
be,  in  very  effential  circumftances,  what  he  wilhes  to  be, 
and  feels  he  ought  to  be  ;  and  he  is  corrupted  by  means 
of  falfehood  and  trick.  The  principles  by  which  he  is 
wheedled  into  wickednefs  in  the  firfl  inftance,  are  there- 
fore fuch  as  are  really  addrefTed  to  the  general  fentiments 
of  mankind  :  thefe  therefore  fhould  be  coniidered  as 
more  expreffive  of  the  public  mind  than  thofe  which  he 
afterwards  adopts,  after  this  artificial  education.  There- 
fore Virtue,  Patriotifm,  Loyalty,  Veneration  for  true 
and  undefiled  Religion,  are  really  acknowledged  by  thofe 
corrupters  to  be  the  prevailing  fentiments ;  and  they  are 
good  if  this  prevalence  is  to  be  the  tell  of  worth.  The 
mind  that  is  otherwife  affetled  by  them,  and  hypocriti- 
cally ufes  them  in  order  to  get  hold  of  the  uninitiated, 
that  he  may  in  time  be  made  to  cherifii  the  contrary  fen- 
timents, cannot  be  a  good  mind,  notwithftanding  any  pre- 
tentions it  may  make  to  the  love  of  mankind. 

No  man,  not  Weifiiaupt  himfelf,  has  made  flronger 
profeffions  of  benevolence,  of  regard  for  the  happinefs  of 
mankind,  and  of  every  thing  that  is  amiable,  than  Dr. 
3ahrdt.  It  may  not  be  ufelefs  to  enquire  what  effecl 
fuch  principles  have  had  on  his  ov.'n  mind,  and  thofe  of 
his  chief  coadjutors.     Deceit  of  every  kind  is  diihonor- 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  ^s^ 

able  ;  and  the  deceit  that  is  profeffedly  employed  in  the 
proceedings  of  the  Union  is  no  exception.  No  pious 
fraud  whatever  mull  be  ufed,  and  pure  religion  muft  be 
ptefented  to  the  view  without  all  dirguifc. 

"  The  more  fair  Virtue's  feen,  the  more  fhe  charms. 
*'  Safe,  plain,  and  eafy,  are  her  artlefs  ways. 
*'  With  face  ered:,  her  eyes  look  ftrait  before  ; 
"  For  dauntlefs  is  her  march,  hei  ftep  fecure. 

"  Not  fo  pale  Fraud — now  here  (he  turns,  now  there, 
*<  Still  feeking  darker  fhades,  fecure  in  none, 
*'  Looks  often  back,  and  wheeling  round  and  round, 
*'  Sinks  headlong  in  the  danger  fhe  would  fhun.'* 

The  mean  motive  of  the  Proteftant  Sceptic  is  as  in- 
Gonfiftent  with  our  notions  of  honefty  as  with  our  noti- 
ons of  honor  ;  and  our  fufpicions  are  juflly  raifed  of  the 
charafter  of  Dr.  Bahrdt  and  his  affociates,  even  although 
we  do  not  fuppofe  that  their  aim  is  the  total  aboliffiing 
of  religion.  With  propriety  therefore  may  we  make 
fome  enquiry  about  their  lives  and  conduct.  Fortu- 
nately this  is  eafy  in  the  prefent  inftance.  A  man  that 
has  turned  every  eye  upon  himfelf  can  hardly  efcape  ob- 
fervation.  But  it  is  not  fo  eafy  to  get  fair  information. 
The  peculiar  fituation  of  Dr.  Bahrdt,  and  the  caufe  be- 
tween him  and  the  public,  are  of  all  others  the  moft  pro- 
duflive  of  miflake,  mifreprefentation,  obloquy,  and  in. 
juftice.  But  even  here  we  are  fortunate.  Many  re- 
markable parts  of  his  life  are  eftabliflied  by  the  moft  re- 
fpeclable  teflimony,  or  by  judicial  evidences  ;  and,  to 
make  all  fure,  he  has  written  his  own  life.  I  (hall  infert 
nothing  here  that  is  not  made  out  by  the  two  lail  modes 
of  proof,  refting  nothing  on  the  hrft,  however  refpeCta- 
ble  the  evidence  may  be.  But  I  muft  obferve,  that  his 
life  was  alfo  written  by  his  dear  friend  Pott,  the  partner 


£54  THE  GERMAN  UNION. 

of  Wakher  the  bookfeller.  The  ftory  of  this  publicati- 
on is  curious,  and  it  is  inllru6live, 

■  Bahrdt  was  in  prifon,and  in  great  poverty.  He  intend- 
ed to  v/rite  his  own  life,  to  be  printed  by  Wakher,  under 
a  fiQitious  name,  and  in  this  work  he  intended  to  in- 
dulge his  fpleen  and  his  diflike  of  all  thofe  who  had  of- 
fended him,  and  in  particular  all  priefts,  and  rulers, 
and  judges,  who  had  given  him  fo  much  trouble.  He 
knew  that  the  ftrange,  and  many  of  them  fcandalous 
anecdotes,  with  which  he  had  fo  liberally  interlarded 
many  of  his  former  publications,  would  fet  curiofity  on 
tiptoe,  and  would  procure  a  rapid  fale  as  foon  as  the 
public  Ihould  guefs  that  it  was  his  own  performance,  by 
tbe  fmgular  but  fignificant  name  which  the  pretended 
author  would  affume.  He  had  almoft  agreed  with  Wal- 
ther  for  a  thoufand  dahlers  (about  L.  200)  when  he  was 
imprifoned  for  being  the  author  of  the  farce  fo  often 
named,  and  of  the  Commentary  on  the  Religion  Edi^, 
written  by  Pott,  and  for  the  proceedings  of  the  German 
Union.  He  was  refufed  the  ufe  of  pen  and  ink.  He 
then  applied  to  Pott,  and  found  means  to  correfpond 
with  him,  and  to  give  him  part  of  his  life  already  writ- 
ten, and  materials  for  the  reft,  confiding  of  ftories,  and 
anecdotes,  and  correfpondence.  Pott  fent  him  feveral 
Iheets,  with  which  he  was  fo  pleafcd,  that  they  con- 
cluded a  bargain.  Bahrdt  fays,  that  Pott  was  to  have 
400  copies,  and  that  the  reft  was  to  go  to  the  mainte- 
nance of  Bahrdt  and  his  family,  confifting  of  his  wife, 
daughter,  a  Chriftina  and  her  children  who  lived  with 
them,  &c.  Pott  gives  a  different  account,  and  the 
truth  was  different  from  both,  but  of  little  confequence 
to  us.  Bahrdt's  papers  had  been  feized,  and  fearched 
for  evidence  of  his  tranfaftions,  but  the  ftrifteft  atten- 
iion  w^s  paid  to  tbx  precile  points  of  the  charge,  and  no 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  255 

paper  was  abftra£led  which  did  not  relate  to  thefe.  All 
others  were  kept  in  a  fealed  room.  Pott  procured  the 
removal  of  the  feals,  and  got  pofTeffion  of  them.  Bahrdt 
fays,  that  his  wife  and  daughter  came  to  him  in  prifon, 
almoft  ftarving,  and  told  him  that  now  that  the  room 
was  opened,  Pott  had  made  an  offer  to  write  for  their 
fupport,  if  he  had  the  ufc  of  thefe  papers— that  this  was 
the  conclufion  of  the  bargain,  and  that  Pott  took  away 
all  the  papers.  N.  B,  Pott  was  the  aflbciate  of  Wal- 
ther,  who  had  great  confidence  in  him  ( Anecdotcnbuch 
Jur  meinen  lieben  Amtpjrilder,  p.  400 J  and  had  con- 
duced the  bufmefs  of  Stark's  book,  as  has  been  alrea- 
dy mentioned.  No  man  was  better  known  to  Bahrdt, 
for  they  had  long  afted  together  as  chief  hands  in  the 
Union.  He  would  therefore  write  the  life  of  its  foun- 
der con  amore,  and  it  might  be  expeQed  to  be  a  rare 
and  tickling  performance.  And  indeed  it  was.  The 
firft  part  of  it  only  was  pubUflied  at  this  time;  and  the 
narration  reaches  from  the  birth  of  the  hero  till  his  leav- 
ing Leipzig  in  1768.  The  attention  is  kept  fully  awake, 
but  the  emotioris  which  fucceflively  occupy  the  mind  of 
the  reader,  are  nothing  but  ftrong  degrees  of  averfion, 
difguft,  and  horror.  The  figure  fet  up  to-  view  is  a 
monfter,  clever  indeed,,  and  capable  of  great  things  j 
but  lod  to  truth,  to  virtue,  and  even  to  the  afFeftation 
of  common  decency — In  fliort,  a  fbamelefs  profligate. — ■ 
Poor  Bahrdt  was  aftonifhed — dared — but,  having  his 
wits  about  him,  fav/  that  this  life  would  fell,  and  would 
alfo  fell  another. — "Without  lofsof  time,  he  faid  that  he 
would  hold  Pott  to  his  bargain — but  he  reckoned  without 
his  hoft.  "  No,  no,"  faid.  Pott,  "  You  are  not  the  man 
I  took  you  for--your  correfpondence  was  put  into  my 
hands— I  faw  that  you  had  deceived  me,  and  it  was  my 
duty,  as  a  man  zuho  loves  truth  above  all  things^  to  hinder 
you  from  deceiving  the  world.     I  have  not  wcittea  Ui^ 


256  THE  GERMAN  UNION; 

book  you  defired  me.     I  did  not  work  for  you,  but  for" 
niiyfelf — therefore  you  get   not  a   grofchen."     "  Why, 
Sir,'^  faid  Bahrdt  "  we  both  know   that  this   v/ont  do. 
Yoa  and  I  have  already  tried  it.     You  received  Stark's 
inanufcript,  to  be  printed  by    Walther — Walther  and 

vou  fent  it  hither  to  Michaelis,   that  1  might  fee  it  du- 

^  <-'  . 

ring  the  printing.     I  wrote  an  •  illuftration   and  a  key, 
■Nvhich  made   the    fellow    very   ridiculous,    and    they''^ 
were  printed  together,  with  one  title  page.     You  know' , 
that  we  were  call   in  court.     Walther  was    obliged  to' 
print  the  v.'ork  as  Stark  firft  ordered,  and  we  loft  all  our 
labour.     So  fnall  you  now,  for  I  will  commence  an  ac- 
tion this  inftant,  and  let  me  fee  with  Vv'hat  face  you  will 
defend  yourfelf,  within  a  few  weeks  of  your  laft  appear- 
ance in  court."     Pott   faid,  '"  You  may    try  this.     My 
work  is  already  fold,  and  difperfed  over  all  Germany 
— and  I  have  no  objeQion  to  begin  yours  to-morrow — 
believe  me,  it  will  fell."     Bahrdt  pondered — and  rcfol- 
ved  to  write  one  himfelf. 

This  is  another  fpecimen  of  the  Union, 

Dr.  Carl  Friederich  Bahrdt  was  born  in  1741. 
His  father  was  then  a  parifh-minifter,  and  afterwards- 
Profeflbr  of  Theology  at  Leipzig,  where  he  died  in  1775. 
The  youth,  when  at  College,  enlifted  in  the  Pruffian  fcr-^ 
vice  as  a  huflar,  but  was  bought  off  by  his  father.  He 
was  M.  A.  in  1761.  He  became  catechift  in  his  father's 
church,  was  a  popular  preacher,  and  publifhed  fermons 
in  1765,  and  fome  controverfial  writings,  which  did  him 
honor — But  he  then  began  to  indulge  in  conviviality, 
and  in  anonymous  bafquinades,  uncommonly  bitter  and 
offenfivc.  No  perfon  was  fafe — ProfefTors — -Magif-' 
trates — Clergymen — had  his  chief  notice — alfo,  ftudent^' 
—and  even   comrade^  and  friends,     (Bahrdt  faysp  taat 


THE  GERMAN  UNiOKr.  257 

ttiefe  things  might  cut  to  the  quick,  but  they  were  all 
juft.)     Unluckily  his  temperament  was  what  the  atomi- 
cal  philofophers  (who  can  explain  every  thing  by  aethers 
and  vibrations)  call   fanguine.     He    therefore   (his  own 
■word)  was  a  paffionate  admirer  of  the  ladies.     Coming 
home  from   fupper  he  frequently  met  a  young  Mifs  in 
the  way  to  his  lodgings,  neatly  drefled  in  a  rofe-colour- 
cd  filk  jacket  and  train,  and  a  fable  bonnet,  collly,  and 
like  a  lady.  '  One  evening  (after  fome  old   khenifh,  as 
he  fays)  he  faw  the  lady  home;     Some  time  after,  the 
miftrefs  of  the  houfe,  Madam    Godfchuflcy,  came  into 
his  room,  and  faid  that  the  poor  maiden  was   pregnant. 
He  could   not  help  that' — but  it  was  very    unfortunate, 
and  would  ruin  him  if  known.-^He  therefore  gave  the 
old  lady  a  bond  for  200  dahlers)   to   be  paid  by  inftal- 
ments  of  twenty -five.- — — "  The  girl  was  fenfible,  and 
good,  and  as  he  had  already  paid  for  it,  and  her  conver- 
fation  was  agreeable,  he  did  notdifcontinue  his  acquaint- 
ance."    A  comrade  one  day  told  him.,  that  one  Bel,  a 
magiftrate,  whom  he  had  lampooned,  knew  the  affair,  and 
would  bring  it  into  court,  unlefs  he  immediately  retriev- 
ed the  bond.     This  bond  was  the  only  evidence,  but  it 
was  enough.     Neither  Bahrdt  nor  his  friend  could  raife 
the  money.  But  they  fell  on  another  CQntrivance.  They 
got  Madam  Godfchufky  to  meet  them  at  another  houfej. 
in  order  to  receive  the  money.     Bahrdt  was  in  a  clofet, 
and  his  comrade  wore  a  fword.     The  woman  could  not 
be  prevailed  on  to  produce  the  bond  tiU  Bahrdt  fliould 
arrive,  and  the  money  be  put  into,  her  hands,  with  a  pre- 
fent  to  herfelf.     The  comrade  tried  to  flutter  her,  and, 
drawing  his  fword,   fhewed  her  how  men  fenced — made 
paffes  at  the  wall-r-and  then  at  her — but  fhe  was  too  firm 
-r-he  then  threw  away  his  fword,  and  began  t-o  try  to  force 
the  paper  from  her.     She  defended  herfelf  a  good  whilej 

.     J  i 


;>58  THE  GERMAN  UNION. 

but  at  length  he  got  the  paper  out  of  her  pocket,  tore  it  in. 
pieces,  opened  the  clofet-door,  and  faid,  "There  you  b — 
there  is  the  honorable  fellow  whom  you  and  your  Vv'h  — 
have  bullied — but  it  is  with  me  you  have  to  do  now,  and 
you  know  that  I  can  bring  you  to  the  gallaws."  There 
wasa  great  fquabble  to  be  fure,  fays  Bahrdt,  but  itended, 
and  I  thought  all  was  now  over. — But  Mr.  Bel  had  got 
word  of  it,  and  brought  itinto  court  the  very  day  that  Bahrdt 
was  to  have  made  fome  very  reverend  appearance  at  church.. 
In  fhort,  after  many  attempts  of  his  poor  father  to  lave 
him,  he  was  obliged  to  fend  in  his  gown  and  band,  and  to 
quit  the  place.  It  was  fome  comfort,  however,  that  Ma- 
dam Godfchufky  and  the  young  Mifs  did  not  fare  much 
better.  They  were  both  imprifoned.  Madam  G.  died 
fome  time  after  of  fome  fhocking  difeafe.  The  court- 
records  give  a  very  different  account  of  the  whole,  and 
particularly  of  the  fcuffle ;  but  Bahrdt's  ftory  is  enough.. 

Bahrdt  fays,  that  his  father  was  fevere — but  acknow- 
ledges that  his  own  temperament  was  hafty  (why  does 
not  his  father's  temperament  excufe  foraething  ?  Vibrati. 
unculoe  will  explain  every  thing  or  nothing.)  "  There- 
fore (again)  I  fometimes  forgot  myfelf. — One  day  I  laid' 
a  loaded  piflol  on  the  table,  and  told  him  that  he  fhould 
meet  with  that  if  he  went  on  fo.  B^it  I  was  only  feven- 
teen." 

Dr.  BahrdtN  was,  of  courfe,  obliged  to  le?ve  the 
place.  His  friekds,  and  Semler  in  particular,  an  emi- 
nent theological  writer,  who  had  formed  a  very  favora- 
ble opinion  of  his  uncommon  talents,  were  afliduous  in 
their  endeavours  to  get  an  eilablifhment  for  him.  But 
his  high  opinion  of  himfelf,  his  temper,  impetuous,  pre- 
cipitant, and  overbearing,  and  a  bitter  fatirical  habit 
which  he  had  freely  indulged  in  his  outfet  of  life,  raadei 
their  endeavours  very  ineffectual. 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  '^59 

At  laft  he  got  a  profelT'orfiiip  at  Erlangen,  then  at  Er- 
^urth,  and  in  1771,  at  GieiTen.  But  in  all  thefe  placea, 
he  was  no  fooner  fettled  than  he  got  into  difputes  with 
his  colleagues  and  with  the  eilablifiied  church,  being  a 
ftrenuous  partizan  of  the  innovations  which  were  at- 
tempted to  be  made  in  the  do6lrines  of  Chriftianity.  In 
his  anonymous  publications,  he  did  not  truft  to  rational 
<iifculIion  alone,  but  had  recourfe  to  ridicule  and  per- 
fonal  anecdotes,  and  indulged  in  the  moft  cutting  far- 
cafms  and  grofg  fcurrility. — Being  fond  of  convivial 
company,  his  income  was  infufficient  for  the  craving  de- 
mand, and  as  foon  as  he  found  that  anecdote  and  flan- 
der  always  procured  -readers,  he  never  ceafed  writing. 
He  had  wonderful  readinefs  and  aftivity, and  fpared  nei- 
ther friends  nor  foes  in  his  anonymous  performances. 
But  this  could  not  la'ft,  and  his  avowed  theological  writ- 
ings were  fuch  as  could  not  be  fufFcred  in  a  Profeflbr  of 
Divinity.  The  very  fludents  at  Gieffen  were  fhocked 
with  fome  of  his  liberties.  After  much  wrangling  in  the 
church-judicatories  he  was  juft  going  to  be  difmilTed, 
when  he  got  an  invitation  to  Marfchlins  irt  Switzerland 
to  fuperintend  an  academy.  He  went  thither  about  the 
year  1776,  and  formed  the  feminary  after  the  model  of 
Bafedow's  Philanthropine,  or  academy,  at  Deflau,  of 
which  I  have  already  given  fome  account.  It  had  ac- 
quired fome  celebrity,  and  the  plan  was  peculiarly  fuit- 
ed  to  Bahrdt's  tafte,  becaufe  it  left  him  at  liberty  to  in- 
troduce any  fyftem  of  religious  or  irreligious  opinions 
that  he  pleafed.  He  refolve-d  to  avail  himfelf  of  this  li' 
berty,  and  though  a  clergyman  and  Do6lor  of  Theology, 
he  would  outftrip  even  Bafedow,  who  had  no  ccclcfiaf- 
tical  orders  to  reftrain  him.  But  he  wanted  the  mode- 
ration, the  prudence,  and  the  principle  of  Bafedow. 
He  had,  by  this  time,  formed  his  opinion  of  mankind, 
hy  meditating  on  the  feelings  of  his. own  mind.     Hk 


ss6c3  THE  GERMAN  UNION. 

theory  of  human  nature  was  fimple — "  The  leading  pro- 
penfities,  fays  he,  of  the  human  mind  are  three — In- 
iUn6live  Uberty  (Freyheitjlriebc) — inftindive  adivity 
(Triebe  fur  Thatigkeit) — and  inftinctive  love  (Liebes 
triebeJ")  I  do  not  wifii  to  mifunderftand  him,  but  I 
can  give  no  other  tranflation. — "  If  a  man  is  obllruded 
in  the  exercife  of  any  of  thefe  propenfities,  he  fuffers  an 
injury — The  bufmefs  of  a  good  education  therefore  is  to 
teach  us  how  they  are  to  be  enjoyed  in  the  higheft  de- 
gree." 

We  need  not  he  furprifed  although  the  DoQor  fhould 
find  it  difficult  to  manage  the  Cyclopedia  in  his  Philan- 
thropine  in  fuch  a  manner  as  to  give  fatisfaftion  to  the 
neighbourhood,  which  was  habituated  to  very  different 
fentiments. — Accordingly  he  found  his  fituation  as  un- 
comfortable as  at  Gieflen.  He  fays,  in  one  of  his  lateft 
performances,  "  that  the  Grifons  were  a  flrong  inftance 
of  the  immenfe  importance  of  education.  They  knew 
nothing  but  their  handicrafts,  and  their  minds  were  as 
coarfe  as  their  perfons."  He  quarrelled  with  them  all, 
and  was  obliged  to  ^bfcond  after  lying  fome  time  in 
arreft. 

He  came  to  Durkheim  or  Turkheim,  where  his  fa- 
ther was  or  had  been  minifter.  His  literary  talents  were 
well  known. — After  fome  little  time  he  got  an  aflocia- 
tion  formed  for  erefting  and  fupporting  a  Philanthro- 
pine  or  houfe  of  education.  A  large  fund  was  collecled^ 
and  he  was  enabled  to  travel  into  Holland  and  England,  to 
engage  pupils,  and  was  furnillied  with  proper  recommcn- 
dations.-^On  his  return  the  plan  was  carried  into  execu- 
tion. The  callle  or  refidence  of  Count  Leining  Hartz- 
burgh  at  Heidefheim,  having  gardens,  park,  and  every 
ha.udfomc  accoinniodation,,  had  been  titled  up  for  it. 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  261 

nand  it  was  confccrated  by  a  folemn  religious  fcilival  in 

1778. 

But  his  old  misfortunes  purfued  him.  He  had  indeed 
no  colleagues  lo  quarrel  with,  but  his  avowed  publica- 
tions became  every  day  more  obnoxious — and  when  any 
of  his  anonymous  pieces  had  a  great  run,  he  could  not 
ftifle  his  vanity  and  conceal  the  author's  name. — Of 
thefe  pieces,  fome  were  even  fhocking  to  decency. — It 
was  indifferent  to  him  whether  it  was  friend  or  foe  that 
he  abufcd  ;  and  fome  of  them  were  fo  horribly  inJuriouiS 
to  the  charatters  of  the  moil  refpeclable  men  in  the  ftate, 
that  he  was  continually  under  the  correftion  of  the  courts 
of  juftice.  There  was  hardly  a  man  of  letters  that  had 
ever  been  in  his  company  who  did  not  fulFer  by  it.  For 
his  conflant  praBice  was  to  father  every  new  Hep  that  he 
took,  towards  AtheiiVn  on  fome  other  perfon ;  and, 
whenever  the  reader  kes,  in  the  beginning  of  a  book, 
any  perfon  celebrated  by  the  author  for  iound  fenfe, 
profound  judgment,  accurate  reafoniag,  or  praifed  for 
acts  of  friendfhip  and  kindnefs  to  Iwrnfelf,  he  may  be 
allured  that,  before  the  clofe  of  the  book,  this  man  will 
convince  Dr.  Bahrdt  in  fome  private  converfation,  that 
fome  doctrine,  cheriihed  and  venerated  by  ail  Chrifti- 
ans,  is  a  piece  of  knavifh  fuperftition.  So  lolt  was  Dr. 
Bahrdt  to  all  fenfe  of  fhame.  He  faid  that  he  held  his 
own  opinions  independent  of  all  mankind,  and  was  in- 
different about  their  praife  or  tiieir  reproach. 

Bahrdt's  licentious,  very  licentious  life,  was  the  caufe 
of  moft  of  thefe  enormities.  No  income  could  fufScc, 
and  he  wrote  for  bread.  The  abomiiiable  way  in  which 
the  literary  manufacture  of  Germany  was  conducted, 
made  it  impoilible  to  hinder  the  rapid  difpcrlion  of  his 
writiiigs  over  all  Germany ;  and  the  indelicate  and  coarfe 


sSz  THE  GERMAN  UNION.        ' 

maw  of  the  public  was  as  ravenous  as  the  fenfuality  tsT 
Dr.  Bahrdt,  who  really  battened  in  the  Epicurean  jfly. 
The  confequence  of  all  this  was  that  he  was  obliged  to 
fly  from  Heidefheiim,  leaving  his  furcties  ift  the  Philun" 
ihropine  to  pay  about  14,000  dahler^,  befides  debts 
without  number  to  his  friends.  He  was  imprifoned  at 
Dienheim,  but  was  releafed  I  know  not  how,  and  fet- 
tled at  Halle.  There  he  funk  to  be  a  keeper  of  a  tavern 
and  billiard-table,  and  his  houfe  became  the  re  fort  and 
the  bane  of  the  ftudents  in  the  Univerfity. — He  was 
obhged  therefoie  to  leave  the  city.  He  had  fomehow 
got  funds  Av'hich  enabled  him  to  buy  a  little  vineyard, 
prettily  fituaied  in  the  neighbourhood.  This  he  fitted 
up  with  every  accommodation  that  could  invite  the  ftu- 
dents, and  called  it  Bahrdfs  Ruhe.  We  have  already 
i'een  the  occupations  of  Dr.  B.  in  this  Bucn  Retiro — 
Can  we  call  it  otiuvii  cum  digniiaie  ?  Alas  no  !  He  had 
jiot  lived  two  years  here,  bultling  and  toiling  for  the 
German  Union,  fometimes  without  a  bit  of  bread— 
-when  he  was  fent  to  prifon  at  Halle,  and  then  to  Mag- 
deburgh,  where  he  was  more  than  a  year  in  jail.  He 
v;as  fet  at  liberty,  and  returned  to  Bahrdfs  Ruhe,  not, 
alas,  to  live  at  eafe,  but  to  lie  down  on  a  fick  bed,  where, 
after  more  than  a  year's  fuffering  cncreaiing  pain,  he 
died  on  the  23d  of  April  1793,  the  moft  wretched  ^nd 
loathfome  vitlim  of  unbridled  fenfuality. 

The  account  of  his  cafe  is  written  by  a  friend,  a  Dr. 
Jung,  who  profefies  to  defend  his  memory  and  his  prin- 
ciples. The  medical  defcription  melted  my  heart,  and 
I  am  ceriain  would  make  his  bitter-eft  enemy  weep. 
Jung  repeatedly  fays  that  the  cafe  was  not  venereal — 
x;alls  it  the  vineyard  difeafe — the  quickhlver  difeafe  (he 
■was.  dying  of  an  unconquerable  falivation)  and  yet, 
through  the  whole  of  his  narration,  relates  jymptoms  and 


THE  GERxMAN  UNION'.  263 

fu-fferings,  which,  as  a  medical  man,  he  could  not  pof- 
fibly  mean  to  be  taken  in  any  other  fenfe  than  as  efFccls 
©f  pox.  He  meant  to  pleafe  the  enemies  of  poor  Bahrdt, 
knowing  that  fuch  a  man  could  have  no  friends,  and 
being  himfelf  ignorant  of  what  fricndfhip  or  goodnefs  is. 
The  fate  of  this  poor  creature  affetled  me  more  than  any 
thing  I  have  read  of  a  great  while.  All  his  open  ene~ 
mies  put  together  have  not  faid  fo  much  ill  of  him  as  his- 
trufted  friend  Pott,  and  another  confident,  whofe  name 
I  cannot  recoiled,  who  pubiifhed  in  his  lifetime  an  ano- 
nymous book  called  Bahrdt  with  the  iron  hroio—zniX 
this  fellow  Jun-g,  under  the  abfurd  maflv  of  friendfhip,. 
exhibited  the  loathfome  carcafe  for  a  florin,  like  a  male- 
£a6lor's  at  Surgeons  Hall.  Such  were  the  fruits  of  the 
German  Union,  of  that  Illumination  that  was  to  refinc 
the  heart  of  man,  and  bring  to  maturity  the  feeds  of  na-- 
live  virtue,  which  are  choaked  in  the  hearts  of  other 
men  by  fuperftition  and  defpotifm.  We  fee  nothing 
but  mutual  treachery  and  bafe  deliertion* 

I  do  not  concern  myfelf  witli  the  gradual  perverfion 
of  Dr.  Bahrdt's  moral  and  religious  opinions^  But  he 
affetled  to  be  the  enlightener  and  reformer  of  mankind  ; 
and  affirmed,  that  all  the  mifchiefs  in  life  originated  from 
defpotifm  fupported  by  fuperftition.  "  In  vain,"  fays 
he,  "  do  we  complain  of  the  inefficacy  of  religion.  All 
pofitive  religion  is  founded  on  injuftice.  No  Prince 
has  a  right  to  prefcribe  or  fanclion  any  fuch  fyftem. 
Nor, would  he  do  it,  were  not  the  priefts  the  firmeft;  pil- 
lars of  his  tyranny,  and  fuperftition  the  ftrongeft  fetters 
for  his  fubjefls.  He  dares  not  fliow  religion  as  flie  is„ 
pure  and  undefiled — She  would  charm  the  eyes  and  the 
hearts  of  mankind,  would  immediately  produce  true  mo- 
lality, would  open  the  eye^  of  frccborn  ma?n,  would  teacb 


264  THE  GERMAN  UNION.  ' 

him  what  are  his  rights,  and  who  are  his  oppreffors,  and 
Princes  would  vanifli  from  the  face  of  the  earth. ' 

Therefore,  without  trouhhng  ourfelves  with  the  truth 
orfalfehood  of  his  rehgion  of  Nature,  and  affuming  it  a<5 
an  indifputable  point,  that  Dr.  Bahrdt  has  feen  it  in  this 
iiatural  and  fo  effeftive  purity,  it  is  furely  a  very  perti- 
iient  queflion,  "  Whether  has  the  fight  produced  on  his 
mind  an  effeft  fo  far  fuperior  to  the  acknowledged  faint-' 
nefs  of  the  impreffion  of  Chriilianity  on  the  bulk  of  man- 
kind, that  it  will  be  prudent  to  adopt  the  plan  of  the  Ger- 
man Union,  and  at  once  put  an  end  to  the  divifions 
which  fo  unfortunately  alienate  the  minds  of  profeding 
Chriilians  from  each  other?"  The  account  here  given 
of  Dr.  Bahrdt's  life  feems  to  decide  the  queftion. 

But  it  will  be  faid  that  I  have  only  related  fo  many 
inftances  of  the  quarrels  of  Priefts  and  their  flavifh  ad- 
herents with  Dr.  Bahrdt.  Let  us  view  him  in  his  ordi- 
nary conduft,  not  as  the  Champion  and  Martyr  of  Illu- 
mination, but  as  an  ordinary  citizen,  a  hufband,  a  father^ 
a  friend,  a  teacher  of  youth,  a  clergyman. 

When  Dr.  Bahrdt  was  a  parifii-miniQer,  and  prefi-- 
dent  of  fome  inferior  ecclefi^ftical  diftri6l,  he  was  em- 
powered to  take  off  the  cenfures  of  the  church  from  a 
young  woman  who  had  borne  a  baftard  child.  By  vio- 
lence he  again  reduced  her  to  the  fame  condition,  and 
cfcaped  cenfure,  by  the  poor  girl's  dying  of  a  fever  be- 
fore her  pregnancy  was  far  advanced,  or  even  legally 
documented.  Alfo,  on  the  night  of  thefolemn  farce  of 
confecrating  his  Philanthropine,  he  debauched  the  maid- 
fervant,  who  bore  twins,  and  gave  him  up  for  the  father. 
Tliie  thing,  I  prcfume,  was  not  judicioufly. proved,  other- 
wife  he  would  have  furely  been  difgraced  ;  but  it  was  af- 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  265 

terwards  made  evident,  by  the  letters  which  were  found  by 
Pott,  when  he  undertook  to  write  his  life.  A  feries  of  thefe 
letters  had  paifed  between  him  and  one  Graf  a  fteward, 
who  was  employed  by  him  to  give  the  woman  the  fmall 
pittance  by  which   fhe  and  the  infants  were  maintained. 
Remonftrances  were  made  when  the  money  was  not  ad- ' 
vanced  ;  and  there  are  particularly  letters  about  the  end 
of  1779,  which  fhow  that  Bahrdt  had  ceafed  giving  any 
thing.     On  the         of  February  1780,  the  infants  (three 
years  old)  were  taken  away  in  the  night,  and  were  found 
expofed,  the  one  at  Ufftein,  and  the  other  at  Worms, 
many  miles  diftant   from  each  other,  and  almoR  frozen 
to  death.     The  firft  was  found,  by  its  moans,  by  a  fhoe- 
maker  in  a  field  by  the  road-fide,  about  fix  in  the  morn- 
ing ;  the   other  was   found  by  two   girls  between   the 
hedges  in  a  lane,  fet  between  two  great  ftones,  paft  all 
crying.     The  poor  mother  travelled  up  and  down  the 
country   in   queft  of  her   infants,  and  hearing  thefe  ac- 
counts, found  them  both,  and  took  one  of  them  home ; 
but  not  being  able  to  maintain  both,  when  Bahrdt's  com- 
miflioner  refufed   contributing  any  more,  it  remained 
with  the  good  woman  who  had  taken  it  in. 

Bahrdt  was  married  in  1772  while  at  Gieffen  ;  but  af- 
ter wafting  the  greateft  part  of  his  wife's  little  fortune  left 
her  by  a  former  hufband,  he  was  provoked,  by  lofin^ 
1000  florins  (about  L.  110}  in  the  hands  of  her  brother, 
who  would  not  pay  it  up.  After  this  he  ufed  her  very 
ill,  and  fpeaks  very  contemptuoufly  of  her  in  his  own 
account  of  his  life,  calling  her  a  dowdy,  jealous,  and 
every  thing  contemptible.  In  two  infamous  novels,  he 
exhibits  charaBers,  in  which  flie  is  reprefented  in  a  moft 
cruel  manner  ;  yet  this  woman  (perhaps  during  the  ho- 
ney-moon^ was  enticed  by  him  one  day  into  the  bath,  in 


26S  THE  GERMAN  UNION. 

the  pond  of  the  garden  of  the  Philanthropine  at  Heidef^ 
heim,  and  there,  in  the  light  of  all  the  pupils,  did  he 
(aifo  undrefied)  toy  with  his  naked  wife  in  the  water. 
When  at  Halle,  he  ufed  the  poor  woman  extremely  ill, 
keeping  a  miflrefs  in  the  houfe,  and  giving  her  the  whole 
command  of  the  family,  while  the  wife  and  daughter 
were  confined  to  a  feparate  part  of  it.  When  in  prifon 
at  Ma^gdeburgh,  the  (Irumpet  lived  with  him,  and  bore 
him  two  children.  He  brought  them  all  to  his  houfe 
when  he  was  fetat  liberty.  Such  barbarous  ufage  made 
the  poor  woman  at  lafi;  leave  him  and  live  with  her  bro- 
ther. The  daughter  died  about  a  vear  before  him,  of 
an  overdofe  of  Laudanum  given  by  her  iaiber,  to  pro- 
cure fleep  when  ill  of  a  fever.  He  ended  ht.s  ov,'n  wretch- 
ed life  in  the  fame  manner,  unable,  poor  man,  to  bear 
his  diftrefs,  without  the  fmallcft  compuntlion  or  forrow 
for  his  conduct  ;  and  the  lait  thing  he  did  was  to  fend, 
for  a  bookfeller  (Vipink  of  Halle,  who  had  publifhed, 
forae  of  his  vile  pieces)  and  recommend  his  (Irumpet  and 
her  children  to  his  protedionj  without  one  thought  of 
his  injured  wife. 

/  I  fhall  end  my  account  of  this  profligate  monfter  with 
a  fpecimen  of  his  way  of  ufmg  his  friends. 

"  Of  all  the   acquifitions  which  I  made  in  England, 

Mr. (the  name   appears  at  full  length)   was  the 

moil  important.  This  perfon  was  accomplifhed  in  the 
higheft  degree.  With  found  judgment,  great  genius, 
and  correct  tafle,^  he  was  perfe6tly  a  man  of  the  world. 
He  was  my  friend,  and  the  only  perfon  who  warmly  in- 
terefted  hirafelf  for  my  inftitution.  To  his  warm  and 
repeated  recommendations  I  owe  all  the  pupils  I  got  in 
England,  and  many  moft  refpeftable  connections ;  foi 
he  was  univerfally  efteemed  as  a  man  of  learning  and  of 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  s6/ 

■Ae  mod  unblemifhcd  worth.  He  was  my  friend,  my 
conduQor,  and  I  may  fav  my  prefervgr  ;  for  when  I  jiad 
FiOt  bread  for  two  days,  he  took  me  to  his  houfe,  and 
fupplied  all  my  wants.  Tliis  gentleman  was  a  clergy- 
man, and  had  a  fmall  but  genteel  and  fclefted  congrega- 
tion, a  flock  which  requiied  (Irowg  food.  My  fnend 
preached  to  them  pure  natural  religion,  and  was  beloved 
by  them.  His  fermons  were  excellent,  and  delivered 
with  native  energy  and  grace,  becaufe  they  came  from 
the  heart.  I  had  once  the  honor  of  preaching  for  him. 
But  what  a  difference — I  found  myfelf  afraid — I  feared 
to  fpeak  too  boldiy,  becaufe  I  did  not  know  where  I 
was,  and  thought  myfelf  fpeaking  to  my  crouching  coun- 
trymen. But  the  liberty  of  England  opens  every  heart, 
and  makes  it  acceffible  to  morality.  I  can  give  a  very 
remarkable  inRaRce* 

"  The  women  of  the  town  in  London  do  not,  to  be 
fure,  meet  with  my  unqualified  approbation  in  all  re- 
fpe6ls.  But  it  is  impofhble  not  to  be  flruck  with  the 
-propriety  and  decency  of  their  manners,  fo  unlike  the 
clownifh  impudence  of  our  German  wh .     I  could 

TJOt  diftinguifli  them  from  modeft  women,  otherwife  than 
by  their  greater  attention  and  eagernefs  to  fhew  me  civi- 
lity. My  friend  ufed  to  laugh  at  my  miflakes,  and  I  could 
not  believe  him  when  he  told  me  that  the  lady  who  had 

"  kindly  fliSwed  the  way  to  me,  a  foreigner,  was  a  votary 
of  Venus.  He  maintained  that  Englifh  liberty  natural- 
ly produced  morality  and  kindnelk.  I  Itill  doubted,  and 
he  faid  that  he  would  convince  me  by  my  own  experi- 
ence. Thefe  girls  are  to  be  feen  in  crouds  every  evenini^ 
in  every  quarter  of  the  tcnvn.  Akhough  fome  of  them 
may  not  have  even  a  fhift,  they  come  out  in  the  even- 
ing drefled  like  princeffes,  in  hired  clothes,  which  arc  en- 

•  drafted  to  them  withotu:  any  fear  of  their  making  oft 'wi<h 


i6»  THE  GERMAN  UNION. 

them.  Their  fine  fhape,  their  beautiful  flcin,  and  dark 
brown  hair,  their  fwelling  bofom  fo  prettily  fet  off'  by 
their  black  filk  drefs,  and  above  all,  the  gentle  fweetnefs 
of  their  manners,  makes  an  impreflion  in  the  higheft  de- 
gree favorable  to  them.  They  civilly  offer  their  arm^ 
and  fay,  "  My  dear,,  will  you  give  me  a  glafs  of  wine." 
If  you  give  them  no  encouragement,  they  pafs  on,  and 
givciio  farther  trouble.  I  went  with  my  friend  to  Co< 
vent  Garden,  and  after  admiring  the  innumerable  beau* 
ties  we  faw  in  the  piazzas,  we  gave  our  arm  to  three  vt* 
ry  agreeable  girls,  and  immediately  turned  in  to  a  tem- 
ple of  the  Cytherean  Goddefs,  which  is  to  be  found  at 
every  fecond  door  of  the  city,  and  were  fhown  into  a  par- 
lour elegantly  carpeted  and  furniflied,  and  lighted  with 
wax,  with  every  other  accommodation  at  hand.  My  friend 
called  for  a  pint  of  wine,  and  this  was  all  the  expence, 
for  which  we  received  fo  much  civility.  The  converfa- 
tion  and  other  behaviour  of  the  ladies  was  agreeable  in 
the  higheft  degree,  and  not  a  word  paffed  that  would  have 
diftinguifhed  them  from  nuns,  or  that  was  not  in  the 
higheft  degree  mannerly  and  elegant.  We  parted  in  the 
flreet — and  fuch  is  the  liberty  of  England,  that  my  friend 
ran  not  the  fmalleft  rifle  of  fuffering  either  in  his  honor 
or  ufefulnefs.-^Such  is  the  eflfeft  of  freedom," 

We  may  be  fure,  the  poor  man  was  aftoniftied  when 
he  faw  his  name  before  the  public  as  one  of  the  enlight- 
eners  of  Chriftian  Europe.  He  is  really  a  man  of  worth, 
and  of  the  moft  irreproachable  chara6ter,  and  knew  that 
whatever  might  be  the  protection  of  Britifli  liberty,  fuch 
conduft  would  ruin  him  with  his  own  hearers,  and  in  the 
minds  of  all  his  refpeBable  countrymen.  He  therefore 
fent  a  vindication  of  his  chara8;er  from  his  flanderous 
abufe  to  the  publiftiers  of  the  principal  newfpapers  and 
iiterary  joiirnals  in  Germany.     The  vindication  is  com- 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  265 

plete,  and  B.  is  convifted  of  having  related  what  he  could 
not  pojfibly  have  Jecn.  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  the 
vindication  did  not  appear  in  the  Berlin  Monatjchrijt^ 
nor  in  any  of  the  Journals  which  make  favorable  menti- 
on of  the  performances  of  the  Enlighteners. 

."  Think  not,    indignant   reader,"     fays   Arbuthnot, 
**  that  this  man's   life  is    ufelefs  to  mortals."     It  Ihows 
in  aftrong  light  the  falfity  of  all  his  declamations  in  fa- 
vor of  his  fo  much  praifed  natural  religion  and  univerfal 
kindnefs  and  humanity.     No  man  of  the  party  writes 
with  more  perfuafive  energy,  and,  though  his  petulance 
and  precipitant  felf-conceit  lead  him   frequently  aCtray, 
no  man  has  occafionally  put  all  the  arguments  of  thefc 
philofophers  in  a  clearer  light ;  yet  we  fee  that  all  h  faUe 
and  hollow.      He  is   a  vile  hypocrite,  and  the  real  aim. 
of  all  his  writings  is   to  make   money,  by  fostering  the 
fenfual  propenhties  of  human   nature,  although  he  fees 
and  feels  that  the  completion  of  the  plan  of  the  German 
Union  would  be  an  event  more  deftruftive  and  lamenta- 
ble than  any  that  can  be  pointed  out  in  the  annals  of  fu.- 
peritition.     I  w^ill  not  fay  that  all  partifans  of  Illumina- 
tion are   hogs   of  the  fty  of  Epicurus  like  this  wretch. 
But  the  reader  muft  acknowledge  that,  in  the  in'litution 
of  Weifhaupt,  there  is  the  fame  train  of   fenfual  indul- 
gence laid  along  the  whole,  and  that  purity  of  heart  and 
life  is   no  part  of  the  morality  that  is  held  forth  as  th,e 
perfeftion   of  human    nature.     The  final   abolition   of 
Chriftianity  is  undoubtedly  one  of  its  objects — whether 
as  an  end  of  their  efforts,  or  as  a  mean  for  the  attainment 
of  fome  end  ftill  more    important.      Purity  of   heart  is 
perhaps  the    moft  diiiinclive  feature  of  Chriftian  m/ora- 
lity.     Of  this  Dr.  Bahrdt  feems  to  have  had  no  concep- 
tion ;  and  his  inditulion,  as  well  as  his   wnting.s,  ihcnvr 
him  to  have  been  a  very  coarfe  fenfualift.     But  his  tade, 


270  THE  GERMAN  UNIONS 

though  coarfe,  accorded  with  what  Weifliaupt  confider- 
ed  as  a  ruHng  propenfity,  by  which  he  had  the  beft  chance 
of  iecuring  the  fidehty  of  his  lubjefts. — Craving  defires, 
beyond  the  bounds  of  our  means,  were  the  natural  con- 
fequences  of  indulgence — and  fince  the  purity  of  Chrift- 
ian  morality  ftood  in  his  way,  his  firft  care  was  to  clear 
the  road  by  rooting  it  out  altogether — What  can  follow 
but  general  dilfolutenefs  of  manners  ? 

Nothing  can  more  diftinBly  prove  the  crooked  poli- 
tics of  the  Reformers  than  this.  It  may  be  confidered 
as  the  mainfpring  of  their  whole  machine.  Their  pupils 
were  to  be  led  by  means  of  their  meaner  defires,  and  the 
aim  of  their  conduftors  was  not  to  inform  them,  but 
merely  to  lead  them  ;  not  to  reform,  but  ro  rule  the 
world. — They  would  reign,  though  in  hell,  rather  than 
ferve  in  heaven. — Dr.  Bahrdt  was  a  true  Apoftle  of  II- 
lumioatifm ;  and  though  his  torch  was  made  of  the  groffeft 
materials,  and  "  ferved  only  to  difcover  fights  of  woe," 
the  horrid  glare  darted  into  every  corner,  roufmg  hun- 
dreds of  filthy  vermin,  and  direfting  their  flight  to  the 
"rotten  carrion  where  they  could  beft  depofit  their  poifon 
and  their  eggs  ;  in  the  breafts,  to  wit,  of  the  fenfual  and 
profligate,  there  to  fefter  and  burft  forth  in  a  new  and 
hkhy  progeny  :  and  it  is  aftonifliing  what  numbers  were 
thus  roufed  into  aftion.  The  fcheme  of  Reading  Soci- 
eties had  taken  prodigioufly,  and  became  a  very  profit- 
able part  of  the  literary  trade  of  Germany.  The  book- 
fellers  and  writers  foon  perceived  its  importance,  and 
^8.ed  in  concert. 

I  might  fill  a  volume  with  extrafts  from  the  criticifms 
v.hich  were  publifhed  on  the  Religion  EdiH  fo  often 
mentioned  already.  The  Leipzig  catalogue  for  one 
year  contained  173.     Although  it  concerned  the  Pruf- 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  271 

fkn  States  alone,  thefe  appeared  in  every  corner  of  Ger- 
many ;  nay,  alfo  in_Holland,  in  Flanders,  in  Hungary, 
in  Switzerland,  in  Courland,  and  in  Livonia.  This 
fUows  it  to  have  been  the  operation  of  an  Affociated 
Band,  as  was  intimated  to  the  King  with  fo  much  petu- 
lance by  Mirabeau.  There  was  (paft  all  doubt)  fuch  a 
combination  among  the  innumerable  fcribblers  who  fup- 
plied  the  fairs  of  Leipzig  and  Frankfort.  Mirabeau 
calls  it  a  Conjuration  dcs  Fhilofophes,  an  exprefiion  very 
clear  to  himlelf,  for  the  miriads  of  garreteers  who  have 
long  fed  the  craving  mouth  of  Paris  ("  always  thiriling 
after  fome  new  thing")  called  themfelves  phihDfophers, 
and,  like  the  gangs  of  St.  Giles's,  converfed  with  each 
other  in  a  cant  of  their  own,  full  of  moral,  of  energie, 
of  bienvcillance^  <k.c.  Sec.  See.  unintelligible  or  mifun- 
derllood  by  other  men,  and  ufed  for  the  purpofe  of  de- 
ceit. While  Mirabeau  lived  too,  they  formed  a  Con- 
juration. The  34th  of  July  1790  the  mod  folemn  in- 
vocation of  the  Divine  prefence  ever  made  on  the  face 
of  this  earth,  put  an  end  to  the  propriety  of  this  appel- 
lation ;  for  it  became  ncceflary  (in  the  progrefs  of  poli- 
tical Illumination)  to  declare  that  oaths  were  nonfenfe,. 
bccaufe  the  invoked  was  a  creature  of  the  imagination, 
and  the  grand  federation,  like  Weilhaupt  and  Bahrdt's 
Mafonic  Chriftianity,  is  declared,  totliofe  initiated  into 
the  higher  myfteries,  to  be  a  lie.  But  if  we  have  no 
longer  a  Conjuration  des  Philofopkes,  we  have  a  gang  of 
fcribblers  that  has  got  poffefLon  of  the  public  mind  by 
their  manage mer^  of  the  literary  journals  of  Germany, 
and  have  made  licentious  fentiments  in  politics,  in  mo- 
rals, and  in  religion,  as  familiar  as  were  formerly  the  ar- 
ticles of  ordinary  news.  All  the  fceptical  writings  of 
England  put  togct.her  will  not  make  half  the  number 
that  have  appeared  in  Proteftant  Germany  during  the. 
laft  twelve  or  fifteen  years.     And.  in  the  Criticifras  on 


272  THE  GERMAN  UNION. 

the  Edift,  it  is  hard  to  fay  whether  infidelity  or  difloy- 
aky  fills  the  mod  pages. 

To  fuch  a  degree  had  the  Illuminaii  carried  this  favo- 
rite and  important  point  that  they  obtained  the  direction 
even  of  thofe  whofe  office  it  was  to  prevent  it.     There  is 
at  Vienna,  as  at  Berlin,  an  office  for  examining  and  li- 
cenfing  writings  before  they  can  have  their  courfe  in  the 
fftarket.     This  office  publiflies  annually  an  index  of  for- 
bidden books.     In  this   index  are  included  the  account 
Cff  the  laft  Operations  of  Spartacus  and  Philo  in  the  Or- 
der of  Illuminati^  and  a  differtation  on  The  Final  Over- 
throw of  Free  Mafonry,  a  moff  excellent  performance, 
fliowing  the  gradual  corruption  and   final  perverfion   of 
that  fociety  to  a  fcminary  of  fedition.     Alfo  the  Vienna 
Magazine  of  Literature  and  Arts,  which  contains  many 
accounts  of  the  inteferences  of  the  Illuminati  in  the  dif- 
turbances  of  Europe.     The  Cenfor  who  occafioned  this 
prohibition   was   an    Illuminatus,    named  Rctzer.     He 
makes   a   moft   pitiful  and  Jefuitical    defence,  fhowing 
himfelf  completelv  verfant  in  all  the  chicane  of  the  Illu- 
minati,  and  devoted  to  their  Infidel  principles.   (See  ReL 

Megebenh.  lygS'  P-  493-) 

There  are  two  performances  which  give  us  much  in- 
formation refpeBing  the  ftate  of  moral  and  political  opi- 
nions in  Germany  about  this  time.  One  of  them  is  cal- 
led, Proofs  of  a  hidden  Combination  to  defray  the  Free- 
dom  of  Thought  and  Writing  in  Germany.  Thefe  proofs 
are  general,  taken  from  many  Concurring  circumllances 
in  the  Condition  of  German  literature.  They  are  con- 
vincing to  a  thinking  mind,  but  are  too  abftraBed  to  be 
very  impreflive  on  ordinary  readers.  The  other  is  the 
Appeal  to  my  Country  (which  I  mentioned  in  the  former 
part  of  this  work.)     This  is  much  more  (Iriking,  and,  in 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  273 

each  branch  of  literature,  gives  a  progrcflivc  account  of 
the  changes  of  fentiinent,  all  fupported  by  the  evidence 
of  the  books^hemfelvcs.  The  author  puts  it  pall  con- 
tradidion,  that  in  every  fpecies  of  literary  corapofition 
into  which  it  was'poffible,  v/ithout  palpable  abiurdity,  to 
introduce  licentious  or  feditious  principles,  it  was  done. 
Many  romances,  novels,  journies  through  Germany  and 
and  other  countries,*  are  written  on  purpofe  to  attach 
praife  or  reproach  to  certain  fentinients,  characters,  and 
pieces  of  conducl.  The  Prince,  the  nobleman,  is.  made 
defpotic,  oppreffive,  unfeeling,  or  ridiculous — the  poor, 
and  the  men  of  talents,  are  unfortunate  and  neglcBcd— 
and  here  and  there  a  fiditious  Graf  or  Baron  is  made  a 
divinity,  by  philanthropy  expreffed  in  romantic  charity 
and  kindnefs,  or  oflentatious  indifference  for  the  little 
honors  which  are  fo  precious  in  the  eyes  of  a  German. 
— ^In  fhort,  the  fyftem  of  Weifliaupt  and  Knigge  is  car- 
ried into  vigorous  effeft  over  all.  In  both  thefe  per- 
formances, and  indeed  in  a  vaft  number  of  other  pieces, 
.1  fee  that  the  influence  of  Nicholai  is  much  commented 
dn,  and  confidered  as  having  had  the  chief  hand  in  all 
thofe  innovations. 

Thus  I  think  it  clearly  appears,  that  the  fuppreffion 
of  the  Illuminati  in  Bavaria  and  of  the  Union  in  Bran- 
denburgh,  were  infufficient  for  removing  the  evils  which 
they  had  introduced.  The  Eleftor  of  Bavaria  was  obli- 
ged to  iffue  another  proclamation  in  November  1790, 
.warning  his  fubjefl:s  of  their  repeated  machinations,  and 
particularly  enjoining  the  Magiftrates  to   obferve  ,care- 

*  A  plan  adopted  within  thefe  few  years  in  our  own  country, 
which,  if  profecuted  with  the  fame  induftry  with  which  it  has  been 
begun,  will  foon  render  our  circulating  Libraries  fo  many  Nurfe- 
ries  of  Sedition  and  Impiety,  (See  Travel's  into  Germany  by  Efte.) 

L  I 


274  THE  GERMAN  UNION. 

fully  the  affemblies  in  the  Reading  Societies,  which  were 
lELiiLiplying  in  his  States.  A  fimilar  proclamation  was 
made  and  repeated  by  the  Regency  of  Hjjppover,  and  it 
was  on  this  occafion  that  Mauvillon  impudently  avowed 
the  moft  anarchical  opinions. — -But  Weifhaupt  and  his 
agents  were  flill  bufy  and  fuccefsful.  The  habit  of 
.plottiiig  had  formed  itfelf  into  a  regular  fyRem.  Soci- 
eties npw  afted  every  where  in  fecret,  in  correfpondence 
.with  fimilar  focieties  in  diftant  places.  And  thus  a  mode 
of  co-operation  was  furniflied  to  the  difcontented,  the 
reftlefs,  and  the  unprincipled  in  all  places,  without  even 
•the  trouble  of  formal  initiations,  and  without  any  ex- 
ternal appearances  by  which  the  exigence  and  occupa- 
tions of  the  members  could  be  diftinguifhed.  The  Hy- 
■dra's  teeth  were  already  fown,  and  each  grew  op,  inde- 
pendent of  the  reft,  and  foon  fent  out  its  own  oifsets. — 
In  all  places  where  fuch  fecret  praftices  were  going  on, 
ihere  did  not  fail  to  appear  fome  individuals  of  more 
than  common  zeal  and  a6livity,  who  took  the  lead,  each 
in  his  own  circle.  This  gave  a  confiftency  and  unity  ta 
the  operations  of  the  reft,  and  they,  Encouraged  by  this 
co-operation,  could  now  attempt  things  which  they 
would  not  have  otherwife  ventured  on.  It  is  not  till 
jlhis  ftate  of  things  obtains,  that  this  influence  becomes 
fenfible  to  the  public.  Philo,  in  his  public  declaration, 
unwarily  lets  this  appear.  Speaking  of  the  numerous 
little  focieties  in  which  their  principles  were  cultivated, 
he  fays,  "  we  thus  begin  to  be  formidable."  It  may 
BOW  alarm — but  it  is  now  too  late.  The  fame  germ  is' 
now  fprouting  in  another  place. 

I  muft  not  forget  to  take  notice  that  about  this  time 
(1787  or  1788)  there  appeared  an  invitation  from  a  Ba- 
ron or  Prince  S ,  Governor  of  the  Dutch  fortrefs 

H -,  before  the  troubles  in  Holland  to  form  a  fociety 


THE  GERMAN  UNION.  275 

for  lilt  ProttUion  of  Princes. — The  plan  is  exprefTed  in 
very  enigmatical  terras,  but  fuch  as  plainly  fl^iow  it  to 
be  merely  an  odd  title,  to  catch  the  public  eye  -,  for  the 
AfTociation  is  of  the  fame  feditious  kind  with  all  thofe 
already  fpoken  of,  viz.  profeffing  to  enlighten  the  minds 
£>f  men,  and  making  them  imagine  that  all  their  hard- 
fhips  proceed  from  fuperllition,  which  fubjetis  them  to 
ufelefs  and  crafty  priefts;  and  from  their  own  indolence 
and  want  of  patriotifm,  which  make  them  fubmit  to  the 
mal-adminiftration  of  minifters.  The  Sovereign  is  fup- 
pofed  to  be  innocent,  but  to  be  a  cypher,  and  every 
magiftrate,  who  is  not  chofen  by  the  people  actually 
under  him,  is  held  10  be  a  defpot,  and  is  to  be  bound 
hand  and  foot. — Many  circumltances  concur  to  prove 
that  the  projeftor  of  this  infidious  plan  is  the  Prince 
Salms,  who  fo  afiiduoufly  fomented  all  the  difturbances 
in  the  Dutch  and  Auftrian  Netherlands.  He  had,  be- 
fore this  time,  taken  into  his  fervice  Zwack,  the  Cato 
of  the  Illumiiiati.  The  project  had  gone  fome  length 
when  it  was  difcovered  and  fupprelfed  by  the  States. 

Zimmerman,  who  had  been  prcfident  of  the  Illumi- 
nati  in  Manheim,  was  alfo  a  mod  atlive  perfon  in  pro- 
pagating their  doctrines  in  other  countries.  He  was 
employed  as  a  midionary,  and  erected  fome  Lodges  even 
in  Rome — alfo  at  Neufchatel — and  in  Hungary.  He 
was  frequently  feen  in  the  latter  place  by  a  gentleman  of 
my  acquaintance,  and  preached  up  all  the  often  fiblc 
dotlnnes  of  Illuminatifm  in  the  moil  public  manner,  and 
made  many  prolblytcs.  But  when  it  was  difcovered  that 
their  real  and  IVindamental  doQrines  were  different  from 
thofe  which  he  profclfed  in  order  to  dravv?  in  profclytes, 
Zimmerman  left  the  country  in  halle. — Some  time  aner 
this  he  was  arrefted  in  Prulfi^  for  fcditjous  harangu'^s — • 
but  he  cfcapedj  and  has  not  been  heard  of  linte. —  \v  iieii 


27^  THE  GERMAN  UNION. 

he  was  in  Hungary  he  boafled  of  having  creQed  above 
an  hundred  Lodges  in  different  parts  of  Europe,  fome 
of  which  were  in  England. 


That  the  Illuminati  and  dtlier  hidden  Cofmo-political 
focieties  had  fome  influence  in  bringing  about  the  French 
Revolution,  or  at  leaft  in  accelerating  it,  can  hardly  be 
doubted. — In  reading  the  fecret  correfpondence,  I  was 
always  furprifed  at  not  finding  any  reports  from  France, 
and  fomethin^  like  a  hefitation  about  eftablifliinsf  a  mif- 

o  o 

fion  there  ;  nor  am  I  yet  able  thoroughly  to  account 
for  it.  But  there  is  abundant  evidence  that  they  inter- 
fered, both  in  preparing  for  it  in  the  fame  manner  as  in 
Germany,  and  in  accelerating  its  progrefs.  Some  let- 
ters in  the  Brunfwick  Journal  from  one  Campe^  who 
was  an  infpeftor  of  the  feminaries  of  education,  a  man 
of  talenLs,  and  an  Itluminatus^  put  it  beyond  doubt. 
He  was  reliding  in  Paris  during  its  firft  movements,  and 
gives  a  minute  account  of  them,  lamenting  their  excef- 
fes,  on  account  of  their  imprudence,  and  the  ri{|<  of 
fhockirig  the  nation,  and  thus  dellroying  the  projeft, 
but  juftifying  the  motives,  on  the  true  principles  of  Cof- 
ino-politifm.  The  Vienna  Zeitfchriftand  the  Magazine 
of  Literature  and  Fine  Arts  for  1790,  and  other  pam- 
phlets of  that  date,  fay  the  fame  thing  in  a  clearer  man- 
ner. I  fhall  lay  together  fome  pafTages  from  fuch  as  I 
have  met  with,  which  I  think  will  fhew  beyond  all  pof- 
fibility  of  doubt,  that  the  lUuminati  took  an  atlive  part 
in  the  whole  tranfatlion,  and  may  be  faid  to  have  been 
its  chief  contrivers.  I  fliall  premifea  few  obfcrvations, 
wbich  will  give  a  clearer  view  of  the  matter. 


C  H   A  P.     IV. 


The  French  Revolution. 


D 


U  R  I  N  G  thefe  difTenfions  and  difcontents,  and  this 
general  fermentation  of  the  public  mind  in  Germany, 
pxjlitical  occurrences  in  France  gave  exercife  and  full 
fcope  for  the  operation  of  that  fpirit  of  revolt  which  had 
long  growled  in  fecret  in  the  different  corners  of  tht.t 
great  empire.  The  Cofmo-politital  and  fceptical  opi- 
nions and  fentiments  fo  much  cultivated  in  all  the  Lodg- 
es of  the  Philalethes  had  by  this  time  been  openly  pro- 
fefled  by  many  of  the  fages  of  France,  and  artfully  in- 
terwoven with  their  flatiftical  ceconomics.  The  many 
contcfts  between  the  King  and  the  Parliament  of  Paris 
about  the  regillration  of  his  edifts,  had  given  occafion  to 
much  difcullion,  and  had  made  the  public  familiarly  ac- 
quainted with  topics  altogether  unfuitable  to  the  abloluie 
monarchy  of  France. 

This  acquaintance  with  the  natural  expfflations  of 
the  fubje^l,  and  the  expediency  of  a  candid  attention  on 
the  part  of  Government  to  thefe  cxpeclatioii^",  and  a 
view  of  Legiflation  and  Government  founded  on  a  very 
liberal  interpretation  of  ail  tlicfs  thisigs,  was  procigiouf!/ 


278         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

promoted  by  the  rafli  interference  of  France  in  the  dif- 
pute  between  Great  Britain  and  her  colonies.  In  this 
attempt  to  ruin  Britain,  even  the  court  of  France  was 
obliged  to  preach  the  doftrines  of  Liberty,  and  to  take 
its  chance  that  Frenchmen  would  confent  to  be  the  on- 
ly flaves.  But  theh'  officers  and  foldiers  who  returned 
from  America,  imported  the  American  principles,  and  in 
every  company  found  hearers  who  liftened  with  delight 
and  regret  to  their  fafcinating  tale  of  American  inde- 
pendence. During  the  war,  the  Minifter,  who  had  too 
confidently  pledged  himfelf  for  the  deftruftion  of  Bri- 
tain, was  obliged  to  allow  the  Parrfians  to  amufe  them- 
felves  with  theatrical  entertainments,  where  Englifh  law 
was  reprefented  as  opprefiion,  and  every  fretful  extrava- 
gance of  the  Americans  was  applauded  as  a  noble  drug- 
gie for  native  freedom. — All  wifhed  for  a  tafte  of  that 
liberty  and  equality  which  they  were  allowed  to  applaud 
on  the  ftage  ;  but  as  foon  as  they  came  from  the  theatre 
into  the  ftreet,  they  found  themfelvcs  under  all  their  for- 
mer rellraints.  The  fweet  charm  had  found  its  way  into 
their  hearts,  and  all  the  luxuries  of  France  became  as 
dull  as  common  life  does  to  a  fond  girl  when  fiie  lays 
down  her  novel. 

In  this  irritable  flate  of  mind  a  fpark  was  fufficient  for 
kindling  a  flame.  To  import  this  dangerous  delicacy 
of  American  growth,  France  had  expended  many  milli- 
ons, and  was  drowned  in  debts.  The  mad  prodigality 
of  the  Royal  Family  and  the  Court  had  drained  the 
treafury,  and  foreftalled  every  livre  of  the  revenue.  The 
edids  for  new  taxes  and  forced  loans  were  moft  unwel- 
come and  oppreffive. 

The  Avocats  auparlement  had  nothing  to  do  with  ftate- 
affairs,  being  very  little  more  dian  barrifters  in  the  high- 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         279 

eft  court  of  juftice  ;  and  the  higheft  claim  of  the  Prefi- 
dents  of  this  court  was  to  be  a  fort  of  humble  counfel- 
lors  to  the  King  in  common  matters.  It  was  a  very 
ftrange  inconfiftency  in  that  ingenious  nation  to  permit 
fuch  people  to  touch  on  thofe  llate-fubjefts  ;  for,  iit 
faQ>  the  King  of  France  was  an  abfolute  Monarch,  and 
the  fubjecls  were  flaves.  This  is  the  refult  of  all  their 
painful  refearch,  notwithftanding  that  glimmerings  of  na- 
tural juftice  and  of  freedom  are  to  be  met  with  in  their 
records.  There  could  not  be  found  in  their  hiftory  fo 
much  as  a  tolerable' account  of  the  manner  of  calling  the 
nation  together,  to  learn  from  the  people  how  their 
chains  would  heft  pleafe  their  fancy.  But  all  this  was 
againft  nature,  and  it  was  neceffary  that  it  fliould  come 
to  an  end,  the  firft  time  that  the  Monarch  confeffed  that 
he  could  not  do  every  thing  unlefs  they  put  the  tools  into 
his  hands.  As  things  were  approaching  gradually  but 
rapidly  to  this  condition,  the  impertinent  interference 
(for  fo  a  Frenchman,  fubjed  of  the  Grand  Monarchy 
nmjl  think  it)  of  the  advocates  of  the  Parliament  of  Paris 
was  popular  in  the  higheft  degree  ;  and  it  muft  be  con- 
feffed,  that  in  general  it  was  patriotic,  however  incon- 
fiftent  with  the  conftitution.  They  felt  themfelves 
pleading  the  caufe  of  humanity  and  natural  jufticc.  This 
would  emboldv-n  honcft  and  worthy  men  to  fpeak  truth, 
however  unwelcome  to  the  court.  In  general,  it  muft 
alfo  be  granted  that  they  fpoke  with  caution  and  with  re- 
fpeCt  to  the  fovereign  powers  ;  and  they  had  frequently 
the  pleafure  of  being  the  means  of  mitigating  the  bur- 
dens of  the  people.  The  Parliament  of  Paiis,  by  this 
condu£l,  came  to  be  looked  up  to  as  a  fort  of  mediator 
between  the  King  and  his  fubjeds;  and  as  the  avocats 
faw  this,  they  naturally  rofe  in  their  own  eftimation  far 
above  tlie  rank  iw  which  the  conftitution  of  their  govern- 
ment had  placed  them.     For  it  muft  always  be  kept  i« 


28a        THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

mind,  that  the  robe  was  never  confidered  as  the  drefs  of 
a  Nobleman,  although  the  caflock  was.  An  advocate 
vas  nnerely  not  a  roturier  ;  and  though  we  can  hardly 
conceive  a  profefTion  more  truly  honorable  than  the  dif- 
pcnfin^  ofdirtributive  juflice,  nor  any  ftJll  more  conge- 
iH<il  to  a  rational  mind  than  that  of  the  pra8ical  niorality 
vvliich  we,  in  theory,  conlider  as  the  light  by  which  they 
arc  always  condutled  ;  and  although  even  the  artificial 
conllitulion  of  France  had  loni^  been  obliged  to  bow  to 
the  di6laics  ol'  nature  and  humanity,  and  to  confer  nobi- 
lity, and  even  title,  on  fuch  of  the  profcfiors  of  the  mu- 
nicipal law  as  had,  by  their  fliill  and  their  honorable  cha- 
ratler,  rifen  to  the  fnfl:  offices  of  their  profeffion,  yet  the 
Noblelle  de  la  Robe  never  could  incorporate  with  the 
Noblelfe  du  Sang,  nor  even  with  the  NoblefiTe  dc  I'Epce. 
The  defcendants  of  a  Marquis  de  la  Robe  never  could 
rife  to  certain  dignities  in  the  church  and  at  court.  The 
avocats  de  parlement  felt  this,  and  fmarted  under  the  cx- 
clufioh  from  court-honors;  and  though  they  eagerly 
courted  fuch  nobility  as  they  could  attain,  they  feldom 
omitted  any  opportunity  that  occurred  during  their  juni- 
or pra8ice  of  expofmg  the  arrogance  of  the  NoblefTe, 
and  the  dominion  of  the  court.  This  increafed  their  po- 
pularity, and  i/i  the  prefent  fituation  of  things,  being  cer- 
tain of  fupport,  they  went  beyond  their  former  cautious 
bounds,  and  introduced  in  their  pleadings,  and  particu- 
larly in  their  joint  remonftrances  againft  the  regiftration 
of  edids,  all  the  wire-drawn  morality,  and  cofmc-politi- 
cal  jurifprudence,  which  they  had  fo  often  rehearfed  in 
ihe  Lodges,  and  which  h^d  of  late  been  openly  preached 
by  die  economics  and  philofophers. 

A  fignal  was  given  to  the  nation  for  engaging  "  en 
maHe"  in  political  difcuffion.  The  Nctahlcs  were  called 
upon  to  come  andadvife  the  King;  and  the  points  were 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.        uSt 

laid  before  them,  in  which  his  Majefty  (infallible  till 
now)  acknowledged  his  ignorance  or  his  doubts.  But 
who  were  the  Notables  ?  Weie  they  more  knowing  than, 
the  King,  or  lefs  in  need  of  inftrufition  ?  The  nation 
thought  otherwife;  nay,  the  court  thought  otherwife; 
for,  in  fome  of  the  royal  proclamations  on  this  occafi- 
on,  men  of  letters  were  invited  to  affift  with  their  coun-. 
fels,  and  to  give  what  information  their  reading  and  ex- 
perience fhould  fugged  as  to  the  beft  method  of  con- 
voking the  States  General,  and  of  conducing  their  de- 
liberations. When  a  Minifter  thus  folicits  advice  from 
all  the  world  how  to  govern,  he  mof}  affuredly  declares 
his  own  incapacity,  and  tells  the  people  that  now  they 
muit  govern  themfelves.  This  however  was  done,  and 
the  Minifter,  Neckar,  the  Philofopher  and  Philanthro- 
pift  of  Geneva,  fet  the  example,  by  fending  in  his  opi- 
nion, to  be  laid  on  the  council-table  with  the  reft.  On 
this  iignal,  counfel  poured  in  from  every  garret,  and 
the  prefs  groaned  with  advice  in  every  fhape.  Ponder- 
ous volumes  were  written  for  the  Bifliop  or  the  Duke; 
a  handfome  8vo  for  the  Notable  Officer  of  eighteen ; 
pamphlets  and  fmgle  flieets  for  the  loungers  in  the  Pa- 
lais Royal.  The  fermentation  was  aftoniOiing ;  but  it 
was  no  more  than  fhould  have  been  expefted  from  the 
moft  cultivated,  the  moft  ingenious,  and  the  leaft  bafli 
ful  nation  on  earth.  AH,  wrote,  and  all  read.  Not 
contented  with  brindnCT  forth  all  the  fruits  which  the  II- 

o     o 

lumination  of  thefe  bright  days  of  reafon  had  raifed  in 
fuch  abundance  in  the  confervatories  of  the  Philakthes, 
and  which  had  been, gathered  from  the  writings  of  Vol- 
taire, Diderot,  RouCTeau,  Raynal,  &c.  the  patriotic 
counfellors  of  the  Notables  had  ranfacked  all  the  wy'u 
tings  of  former  ages.  They  difcovered  that  France 
HAD  ALWAYS  E  E  E  ^f  J  R  E  E  !     Ouc  would  havc  thougbfe 

M  m 


28-2         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

that  they  had  travelled  \vith  Sir  John  Mandeville  in  that 
country  where  even  the  fpeeches  of  former  times   had 
been  frozen,  and  were   now   thawing  apace   under  the 
beams  of  the  fun  of  Reafon.     For  many  of  thefe  eiTays 
were   as   incongruous   and  mal-a-propos  as  the  broken 
fentences  recorded  by  Mr.   Addifon   in  the   Spetiator. 
A  gentleman  who  was  in  Paris  at  this  time,  a  perfon  of 
great  judgment,  and   well   informed  in  every  thinc^  ref- 
pe8;ing  the    conftitution  and  prefent  condition  of  his 
country, .  affared  me  that  this  invitation,  followed  by  the 
memorial  of  Mr.  Neckar,  operated  like  an  electrical 
fhock.     In  the  courfe  of  four  or  five  days,  the  appear- 
ance of  Paris  was  completely  changed.     Every   where 
one  faw  crowds  ftaring  at  papers  pafted  on  the  walls- 
breaking  into   little  parties — walking  up  and   down  the 
ftreets  in  eager  converfation — adjourning  to  coft'ee-hou- 
fes — and  the   converfation  in  all  companies  turned  to 
politics   alone ;  and  in   all   thefe    converfations,  a  new 
vocabulary,  where  every  fecond  word  was   Morality, 
Philanthropy,  Toleration,   Freedom,  and  Equalifation 
of  property.      Even  at  this  early   period    perfons   were 
liftened  to  without  cenfure,  or  even  furprife,  who  faid 
that  it  was  nonfenfe  to  think  of  reforming  their  govern- 
ment, and  that  it  muft  be  completely  changed.     In  fliort, 
in  the  courfe  of  a  month,  a  fpirit  of  liccntioufnefs   and 
a  rage  for  innovation  had  completely  pervaded  the  minds 
of  the  Parifians.     The  molt  confpicuous  proof  of  this 
was  the  unexpefted  fate  of  the  Parliament.     It  met  ear* 
lier  than  ufual,  and  to  give  greater  eclat  to  its  patriotic 
efforts,  and  completely  to  fecure   the   gratitude  of  the 
people,  it  iffued  an  arret  on  the  prefent  ftate  of  the  na- 
tion, containing  a  number  of  refolutions  on  the  differ- 
ent leading  points  of  national  liberty.     A  few   months 
ago  thefe  would  have  been  joyfully  received  as  the  Mag- 
na Charta  of  Freedom,  aad  really  contained   all  that  a 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.        283' 

wife  people  fhould  defire;  but  becaufe  the  Parliament 
had  fome  time"  before  given  it  as  their  opinion  as  the 
conftitutional  counfel  of  the  Crown,  that  the  States 
fliould  be  convoked  on  the  principles  of  their  iail  meet- 
ing in  1614,  which  preferved  the  diftinftions  of  rank, 
all  their  pall  fervices  were  forgotten — all  their  hard  (Irug- 
gle  with  the  former  adminiftration,  and  their  uncon- 
querable courage  and  perfeverance,  which  ended  only 
with  their  downfall,  all  were  forgotten ;  and  thofe  dif- 
tinguifbed  members  whofe  zeal  and  fufferings  ranked 
them  with  the  molt  renowned  heroes  and  martyrs  of  pa- 
triotifm,  were  now  regarded  as  the  contemptible  tool^ 
of  Arillocracy.  The  Parliament  now  {tt,  in  a  fiery 
troubled  fky — to  rife  no  more. 

Of  all  the  barrifters  in  the  Parliament  of  Paris,  the 
mod  confpicuous  for  the  difplay  of  the  enchanting  doc- 
trines of  Liberty  and  Equality  was  Mr.  Duval,  fon  of 
an  Avocat  in  the  fame  court,  and  ennobled  about  this 
time  under  the  name  of  Defprefmenil.  He  was  mem- 
ber of  a  Lodge  of  the  Amis  Reunis  at  Paris,  called  the 
ContraB  Social,  and  of  the  Lodge  of  Chevaliers  Bien- 
faifants  at  Lyons.  His  reputation  as  a  barrifter  had  been 
prodigioufly  encreafed  about  this  time  by  his  manage- 
ment of  a  caufe,  where  the  defcendant  of  the  unfortu- 
nate General  Lallv,  after  having;  obtained  the  reRoration 
of  the  family  honors,  was  driving  to  get  back  fome  of 
the  eftates.  Mr.  Lally  Tollendahl  l«d  even  trained 
himfelf  to  the  profeflion,  and  pleaded  his  own  caufe 
with  aftonilhing  abilities.  But  Defprefmenil  had  near 
connexions  with  the  family  which  was  in  polfcfTion  of 
the  eiiates,  and  oppofed  him  Vv'ith  equal  powers,  and 
more  addrefs.  He  was  on  the  hde  which  was  moll  a- 
greeable  to  his  favorite  topics  of  declamation,  and  his 
pleadings  attraded  rauCh  notice  both  in  Paris  and  in  fome 


a84        THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION". 

of  the  provincial  Parliaments.  I  mention  thefe  things 
with  fqme  interefl:,  becaufe  this  was  the  beginning  of 
that  marked  rivalfhip  between  Lally  Tollendahl  and- 
Defprefmenil,  which  made  fuch  a  figure  in  the  journals 
of  the  National  y\flembly.  It  ended  fatally  for  both. 
Lally  Tollendahl  was  obliged  to  quit  the  Afiembly, 
when  he  fav/  it  determined  on  the  deftru6lion  of  the  mo- 
narchy and  of  all  civil  order,  and  at  lad  to  emigrate  from 
his  country  with  the  lofs  of  all  his  property,  and  to  fub- 
fift  on  the  kindnefs  of  England.  Defprefmenil  attained 
his  meredian  of  popularity  by  his  difcovery  of  the  fecret 
plan  of  the  Court  to  eftablifh  the  Cour  plenio'e,  and 
ever  after  this  took  the  lead  in  all  the  ftrong  meafures  of 
the  Parliament  of  Paris,  which  was  now  overftepping 
all  bounds  of  moderation  or  propriety,  in  hopes  of  pre- 
ferving  its  influence  after  it  had  rendered  itfelf  impotent 
by  an  unguarded  ftroke.  Defprefmenil  was  the  .firfi 
martyr  of  that  Liberty  and  Equably  which  it  was  now 
boldly  preaching,  having  voluntarily  furrendered  him-. 
felf  a  prifoner  to  the  officer  fent  to  demand  him  from  the 
Parliament.  He  was  alfo  a  martyr  to  any  thing  that  re- 
mained of  the  very  fhadow  of  liberty  after  the  Revolu- 
tion, being  guillotined  by  Robefpierre, 

I  have  already  mentioned  the  intrigues  of.  Count  Mi- 
rabeau  at  the  Court  of  Berlin,  and  his  feditious  preface 
and  notes  on  the  anonymous  letters  on  the  Rights  of  the 
Pruflian  States.  •  He  alfo,  while  at  Berlin,  publiihed 
an  EJfai  fur  la  ScBc  des  Illmnincs^  one  of  the  ftrangeft 
and  moft  impudent  performances  that  ever  appeared. 
He  there  defcribes  a  fed  exifting  in  Germany,  called 
the  Illuminated^  and  fays,  that  they  are  the  moil  abfurd 
and  grofs  fanatics  imaginable,  waging  war  with  every 
appearance  of  Reafon,  and  m.aintaming  the  moft  ridi- 
culous fuperftitions.     Lie  gives  fome  account  of  thefe, 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.        285 

and  of  their  rituals,  ceremonies,  &:c.  as  if  he  had  feen 
them  all.  His  fetl  is  a  confufed  mixture  of  Chriilian 
fuperftitions,  Rofycrucian  nonfenfe,  and  every  thing 
that  can  raife  contempt  and  hatred.  But  no  fuch  So- 
,ciety  ever  exifted,  and  Mirabeau  confided  in  his  own 
powers  of  deception,  in  order  to  fcreen  from  obferva- 
tion  thofe  who  were  known  to  be  Ilhiminati,  and  to 
hinder  the  rulers  from  attending  to  their  real  machina- 
tions, by  means  of  this  Ignis  fatuus  of  his  own  brain. 
He  knew  parfe6lly  that  the  IHuminati  were  of  a  ftamp 
diametrically  oppohte;  for  he  was  illuminated  by  Mau- 
villon  long  before. — He  gained  his  point  in  fome  mea- 
fure,  for  Nicholai  and  others  of  the  junto  immediately 
adopted  the  whim,  and  called  them  Obfcuranten,  and 
joined  with  Mirabeau  in  placing  on  the  Hit  of  Objcuran- 
ten  feveral  pcrfons  whom  they  widied  to  make  ridicu- 
lous. 

Mirabeau  was  not  more  difcontented  with  the  Court 
of  Berlin  for  the  fmall  regard  it  had  teftiiied  For  his  emi- 
nent talents,  than  he  was  with  his  own  Court,  or  rather 
with  the  minifter  Calonne,  who  had  fent  him  thither. 
Calonne  had  been  greatly  difiatisfied  with  his  conduQ  at 
Berlin,  where  his  felf-conceit,  and  his  private  projefts, 
had  made  him  aO:  in  a  way  almoli  contrary  to  the  pur- 
pofes  of  his  miflipn.  Mirabeau  was  therefore  in  a  rage 
at  the  minifter,  and  publillied  a  pamphlet,  in  which  his 
celebrated  memorial  on  the  (late  of  the  nation,  and  the 
means  of  relieving  it,  was  treated  with  the  utmoft  feve- 
rity  of  reproach  ;  and  in  this  conteft  his  mind  was 
wrought  up  to  that  violent  pitch  of  oppontion  which  he 
ever  after  maintained.  To  be  noticed,  and  to  lead,  were 
his  fole  objefcis — and  he  found  that  taking  the  fide  of  the 
difcontented  was  the  bed  field  for  his  eloquence  and  rel- 
iefs arobition—Yei.  there  v/as  no  man  thai  was  more  de- 


285         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

voted  to  the  principles  of  a  court  than  Count  Mirabeau, 
provided   he  had  a  (hare  in  the  adminillration  ;  and  h6 
would  have  obtained  it,   if  any  thing   moderate   would 
have  fatished  him — but  he  thought  nothing   worthy  of 
him  but  a  place  of  aftive  truft,  and  a  high  department. 
For  fuch  offices  all  knew  him  to  be  totally  unfit.     He 
wanted  knowledge  of  great  things,  and  was  learned  only 
in  the  buftling  detail  of  intrigue,  and  at  any  time  would 
facrifice  every  thing  to  have  an  opportunity  of  exercifing 
his  brilliant  eloquence,  and  indulging  his  paflion  for  fa- 
tire  and  reproach. — The  greateft  obftacle  to  his  advance- 
ment was  the  abjeft  worthleffhefs  of  his  chara6ler.  What 
we  ufually  call  profligacy,  viz.  debauchery,  gaming,  im- 
piety, and  every  kind  of  fenfuality  were  not  enough — he 
was  deflitute  of  decency  in  his  vices — tricks  which  would 
dilgrace  a  thief-catcher,  were  never  boggled  at  in  order 
to  fupply  his  expences — For  inftance — His  father  and 
mother  had  a  procefs  of  feparation — Mirabeau  had  juft 
been   liberated  from  prifon  for  a  grofs  mifdemeanour, 
and  was  in  want  of  money — He  went  to  his  father,  hded 
with  him  in  invxftives  againft  his  mother,  and,  for  lOO 
guineas,  wrote  his  father's  memorial  for  the  court. — He 
then  went  to  his-Hioiher,  and  by  a  fimilar  condud  got  the 
fame  fum  from  her — and  both  memorials  were  prefent- 
ed.     Drinking  was  the  only  vice  in  which  he  did  not  in- 
dulge— his  exhaufted  conftitution  did  not  permit  it.   His 
brother  the  Vifcount,  on  the  contrary,  was  apt  to  exceed 
in  jollity.     One  day  the  Count  faid  to  him,  "  How  can 
you,  Brother,  fo  expofe  yourfelf  ?"  "  What  !   fays  the 
Vifcount,  how  infatiable  you  are — -Nature  has  given  you 
every  vice,  and  having  left  me  only  this  one,  you  grudge 
it  me."     V/hen  the  eleftions  were  making  for  the  States- 
General,  he  offered   himfelf  a  candidate   in  his  own  or- 
der at  Aix — But  he  Vv^as   fo  abhorred  by   the  Noble ffe^ 
that   they  not  only  rejeQcd   him,  but  even  drove  him 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.        287 

from  their  meetings.  This  affront  fettled  his  meafures, 
and  he  determined  on  their  ruin.  He  went  to  the  Com- 
mons, difclaimed  liis  being  a  gentleman,  fet  up  a  little 
fliop  in  the  market-place  of  Aix,  and  fold  trifles — and- 
now,  fully  refolved  what  line  he  fhould  purfue,  he  court- 
ed the  Commons,  by  joining  in  all  their  exceiTes  againft 
the  Nobleffe,  and  was  at  laft  returned  a  member  of  the 
Alfembly. 

From  this  account  of  Mirabeau  we  can  eafily  foretell 
the  ufe  he  would  make  of  the  Illumination  which  he  had 
received  in  Germany.  Its  grand  truths  and  juft  mora- 
lity feem  to  have  had  the  fame  elfe£ls  on  his  mind  as  on 
that  of  Weilhaupt  or  Bahrdt. 

In  the  year  1786,  Mirabeau,  in  conjunQion  with  th.e 
Duke  de  Lauzun  and  the  Abbe  Perigord,  afterwards' 
Bilhop  of  Autun  (the  man  fo  puifed  in  the  National  Af-I 
femblies  as  the  brightefl  pattern  of  humanity)  reformed 
a  Lodge  of  Philalcthes  in  Paris,  which  met  in  the  Jaco- 
bin College  or  Convent.  It  was  one  of  the  Amis  Real- 
ms, which  had  now  rid  itfelf  of  all  the  infignificant  myf- 
ticifm  of  the  feO:.  This  was  now  become  troublefome, 
and  took  up  the  time  which  would  be  much  better  em- 
ployed by  the  Chevaliers  du  Soleil,  and  otiier  ftill  more 
refined  champions  of  reafon  and  univerl'al  citiz(?n(l:iip, 
Mirabeau  had  iraparted-to  it  fome  of  that  Illumination 
vhich  had  beamed  upon  him  when  he  was  in  Berlin.  In 
1788  he  and  the  Abbe  were  Wardens  of  the  LorJge. 
They  found  that  they  had  hot  acquired  all  the  dexterity 
of  management  that  he  underRood  was  pr26iired  by  his 
Brethren  in  Germany,  for  keeping  up  their  connetlion, 
and  conducting  their  correfpondence.  A  letter  was 
therefore  fent  nom  this  Lodge,  figned  by  thefe  two  gen- 
tlemen j  to   the  Br^hren  in   Germany,  rec^uelUng  their 


288         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION, 

alTidance  and  indruftion.  In  the  couiTe  of  this  year, 
and  during  the  fitting  of  the  Notables,  a  deputation 
WAS  SENT  from  the  German  Illuminati  to  catch  this  glo- 
rious opportunity  of  carrying  their  plan  into  full  execu- 
tion with  the  greated  eclat. 

Nothing  can  more  convincingly  demonftrate  the  early 
intentions  of  a  party,  and  this  a  great  party,  in  France 
to  overturn  the  conftitution  completely,  and  plant  a  de- 
mocracy or  Oligarchy  on  its  ruins.  The  Illuminati  had 
no  other  object.  They  accounted  all  Princes  ufurpers 
and  tyrants,  and  all  privileged  orders  as  their  abettors. 
They  intended  to  cftablifli  a  government  of  Morality,  as 
they  called  it  (Sittenregiment)  where  talents  and  charac- 
ter (to  be  eftimated  by  their  own  fcale,  and  by  them- 
felves)  fhould  alone  lead  to  preferment.  They  meant  to 
abolifli  the  laws  which  protected  property  accumulated 
by  long  continued  and  fuccefsful  induRry,  and  to  pre- 
vent for  the  future  any  fuch  accumulation.  They  in- 
tended to  eftablifh  univerfal  Liberty  and  Equality,  the 
imprefcriptible  Rights  of  Man  (at  leafl:  they  pretended 
all  this  to  thofe  who  were  neither  Magi  nor  Regentes.) 
And,  as  neceffary  preparations  for  all  this,  they  intend- 
ed to  root  out  all  religion  and  ordinary  morality,  and 
even  to  break  the  bonds  of  domeftic  life,  by  deftroying 
the  veneration  for  marriage-vows,  and  by  taking  the 
education  of  children  out  of  the  hands  of  the  parents. 
This  was  all  that  the   lUiiminati  could  teach,  and   this 

WAS  PRECISELY  WHAT   FRANCE  HAS    DONE. 

I  cannot  proceed  in  the  narration  without  defiling  the 
page  with  the  dctePccd  name  of  077f«?25,-ftained  with 
every  thing  that  can  degrade  or  difgrace  human  nature. 
Ke  only  wanted  Illumination,  to  fiiew  him  in  a  fyftem 
all  the  opinions;  difporitionsy  and  principles  which  fil- 


THE  FREI^JCH  REVOLUTION.         289 

]ed  his  own  wicked  heart.  This  contemptible  being 
was  illuminated  by  Mirabeau,  and  has  fliown  himfelf 
the  moll  zealous  difciple  of  the  Order.  In  his  oath  of 
allegiance  he  declares,  "  That  the  interefts  and  the  ob- 
je6l  of  the  Order  fliall  be  rated  by  him  above  all  other 
relations,  and  that  he  will  ferve  it  with  his  honor,  his 
fortune,  and  his  blood." — He  has  kept  his  word,  and 
has  facrificed  them  all — And  he  has  been  treated  in  the 
true  fpirit  of  the  Order — ufed  as  a  mere  tool,  cheated 
and  ruined. — For  I  mud  now  add,  that  the  French  bor- 
rov;ed  from  the  Illurainati  a  maxim,  unliCard  of  in  any 
other  afTociation  of  banditti,  viz.  that  of  cheating  each 
other.  As  the  managers  had  the  ible  pqfieffion  of  the 
higher  myfteries,  and  led  the  reft  by  principles  which 
they  held  to  be  falfe,  and  which  they  employed  only  for 
the  purpofe  of  fecuring  the  co-operation  of  the  inferior 
Brethren,  ^o  Mirabeau,  Sieves,  Pethion,  and  orhers, 
led  the  Duke  of  Orleans  at  firft  by  his  wicked  ambition, 
and  the  expeSation  of  obtaining  that  crown  which  they 
intended  to  break  in  pieces,  that  they  might  get  the  uf^ 
of  his  immenfe  fortune,  and  of  his  influence  on  the 
thoufands  of  his  depending  fycophants,  who  ate  his 
bread  and  pandered  to  his  grofs  appetiie<;.  Although  we 
very  foon  find  him  a6ling  as  an  lUaminati'.s,  we  cannot 
fuppofe  him  fo  loft  to  common  fenfe  as  to  contribute  his 
fortune,  and  rifk  his  life,  merely  in  order  that  the  one 
fhould  be  afterwards  taken  from  hi  rat  by  law,  and  the 
other  put  on  a  level  with  that  of  his  groom  or  his  pimp. 
He  furely  hoped  to  obtain  the  crown  of  his  indolent  re- 
lation. And  indeed  Mirabeau  faid  to  BergafTe,  that 
'•  when  the  projed  was  mentioned  to  the  Buke  of  Or- 
leans, he  received  it  with  all  poffible  favor,"  (avec  toute 
In  grace  imaginable.)  During  the  coniefts  between  the 
Court  and  the  Parliament  of  Parisj  he  courted  popula- 

N  IX 


390         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

rity  with  an  indecency  and  folly  that  nothing  can  explain 
but  a  mad  and  fiery  ambition  which  blinded  his  eyes  to 
all  confequences.     This  is  put  out  of   doubt  by  his  be- 
haviour at  Verfailles  on  the  dreadful  5th  and  6lh  of  Oc- 
tober 1789.     The  depohtions  at   the  Chatelet  prove  in 
the  moft  inconteftable  manner,  that  during  the   horrors 
of  thefe  two  days  he  was  repeatedly  feen,  and  th-at  when- 
ever he  was   recognifed  by   the  croud,  he   was  huzzaed 
with    Vive  Orleans,   Vive   noire  Roi  Orleans,  &c. — He 
then  withdrew,  and  was   feen  in   other  pkces.     While 
all  about  the  unfortunate  Royal    Family  were  in  the  ut- 
moft    concern   for    their  fate,  he   was  in   gay   humour, 
chatting  on  indifferent  fubjetts.     His  laft  appearance  in 
the  evening  of  the  5th  was,  about  nine  o'clock,  converfmg 
in  a  corner  with  men  difguifed  in.  mean  drefs,  and  fome  in 
women's  clothes  ;  among   whom  were    Mirabeau,  Bar- 
nave,  Duport,  and  other  deputies  of  the    Republican 
party — and  thefe  men  were  feen  immediately  after,  con- 
cealed among  the  lines  of  the  Regiment  de  Flandre,  the 
corruption  of  which  they  had  that  day  completed.     He 
was  feen  as^ain  next  mornin<T   converfmg  with  the  fame 
perfons  in  women's  drefs.     And  when  the  infulted  Sove- 
reign was  dragged  in  triumph  to  Paris,  Orleans  was  again 
feen,  flailking  in  a  balcony  behind  his  children,  to  view 
the  proc-effion  of  devils  and  furies  ;  anxioufly  hoping  all 
the  w'hile  that  fome  diRurbance  would  arife  in  which  the 
King  might  perifli. — I  faould  have   added  that  he  was 
feen  in  the  morning  at  the  top  of  the  ftairs,  pointing  the 
way  with  his  hand   to  the  mob,  where   they   fhould  go, 
while  he  w^ent  by  another  road  to   the    King.     In  fliort, 
he  went  about   trembling  like  a  coward,  waiting  for  the 
explofion   which   might  render   it  fafe  for  him  to   fliew 
himfelf.     Mirabeau  faid  to  him,  "  The  fellow  carries  a 
loaded  piftol  in  his  bofom,  but  will   never   dare  to  pull 
the  trigger,"     He  was   faved^  notwithfiaiiding  his  own 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         291 

folly,  by  being  joined  in  the  accufation  with  Mirabeau, 
who  could  not  refcue  himfelf  without  ftriving  alfo  for 
Orleans,  whom  he  defpifed,  while  he  made  ufe  of  his 
fortune. — In  fliort,  Orleans  was  but  half  illuminated  at 
this  tiine,  and  hoped  to  be  King  or  R.egent. 

Yet  he  was  deeply  verfed  in  the  preparatory  leflbns  of 
Iliuminatifm,  and  well  convinced  of  its  fundamental 
truths.  He  was  well  afiured  of  the  great  influence  of  the 
ivomcn  in  fociety,  and  he  employed  this  influence  like 
a  true  difciple  of  Weilhaupt.  Above  three  hundred 
nymphs  from  the  Purlieus  of  the  Palais  Royal  were 
provided  with  ecus  and  J^ouis  d'ors,  by  his  grand  procu- 
reur  the  Abbes  Sieves,  and  were  fent  to  meet  and  to  il- 
luminate the  two  battalions  of  the  Regiment  de  Flandre^ 
who  were  coming  to  Verfailles  for  the  proteftion  of  the 
Royal  Family.  The  privates  of  one  of  thefe  regiments 
came  and  informed  their  officers  of  this  attempt  made  on 
their  loyalty. — 45,000  livres  were  given  them  at  St. 
Deny's,  to  niake  them  difband  themfelves — and  the  poor 
lads  were  at  firft  dazzled  by  the  name  of  a  fum  that  was 
not  familiar  to  them — but  when  fome  thinking  head  a- 
mong  them  told  them  that  it  only  amounted  to  two  Louis 
d'ors  a-piece,  they  difclofed  the  bribery.  They  were 
then  offered  90,000,  but  never  faw  it.  (Depofitions  at 
the  Chatelet,  No.  317.)  Mademoifelle  Therouane,  the 
favorita  of  the  day  at  the  Palais  Royal,  was  the  moft 
aQive  perfon  of  the  armed  mob  from  Paris,  dreffed  en 
Aviazonne,  v/ith  all  the  elegance  of  the  opera,  and  turn- 
ed many  young  heads  that  day  which  were  afterwards 
taken  off  by  the  guillotine.  The  Duke  of  Orleans  ac- 
knowledged, before  his  death,  that  he  had  expended 
above  L.  50,000  Sterling  in  corrupting  the  Gardes  Fran- 
^oijes.  The  armed  mob  which  came  from  Paris  to  Ver- 
sailles on  the  5ih  of  OQober.   importuning  the  King  {'en: 


29.2         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

bread,  bad  their  pockets  filled  with  crown-pieces  ;  and 
Orleans  was  feen  on  that  day  by  two  gentlemen,  with  a 
bag  of  money  lb  heavy  that  it  was  faftened  to  his  clothes 
with  a  ilrap,  to  hinder  it  from  being  opprefTive,  and  to 
keep  it  in  fuch  a  pofition  that  it  Ihould  be  accelTible  in 
an  inflant.     (See  the  Depofitions  at  the   Chatelet,  No. 

But  fuch  was  the  contempt  into  which  his  grofs  profli- 
gacy, his  cow^ardice,  and  his  niggardly  difpafition,  had 
brought  hira  with  all  parties,  that,  if  he  had  not  been 
quite  blinded  by  his  wicked  ambition,  and  by  his  im- 
placable rel'entment  of  fome  bitter  taunts  he  had  gotten 
from  the  King  and  Queen,  he  muft  have  feen  very  early 
that  he  was  to  be  facrificed  as  foon  as  he  had  ferved  the 
purpofes  of  the  faftion.  At  pre  fen  t,  his  afiiflance  was 
of  the  utmoll  confequence.  His  immenfe  fortune,  much 
above  three  millions  Sterling,  was  almoft  exhaufted 
during  the  three  firfl;  years  of  the  Revolution.  But 
(what  was  of  more  confequence)  he  had  ahnolt  unbound- 
ed authority  among  the  Free  Malbns. 

In  this  country  we  have  no  conception  of  the  autho- 
rity of  a  National  Grand  Mailer.  When  Prince  Fer- 
dinand of  Brunfvv'ick,  by  great  exertions  among  tl>e  jar- 
ring fefts  in  Germany,  had  got  himfelf  elected  Grand 
Mafter  of  the  Slrici  Ohjervanz^  it  gave  ferious  alarm  to 
the  Emperor,  and  to  all  the  Princes  of  Germany,  and 
contributed  greatly  to  their  connivance  at  the  attempts 
of  the  Illuminati  to  difcredit  that  party.  In  the  great  ci- 
ties of  Germany,  the  inhabitants  paid  more  rcfpeft  to 
the  Grand  Maiter  of  the  Mafons  than  to  their  refpeftive 
Princes.  The  authority  of  the  D.  of  Orleans  in  France 
vas  dill  greater,  in  confequence  of  his  employing  his  for- 
tune 10   luDDort  it.     About   ei:iht  vcars  before  the  Re- 


■0\ 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         2C.3 

rolution  he  had  (not  without  much  intrigue  and  many 
bribes  and  promifes)  been  elefted  Grand  Mafter  of 
France,  having  under  his  directions  all  the  Improved 
Lodges.  The  whole  Affociation  was  called  the  Grand 
Orient  de  la  France,%nd  in  1785  contained  266  of  tbefe 
Lodges  (fee  Fr-eymaurerif'che  Z&itung,  Neuivied,  ^1^7-) 
Thus  he  had  the  management  of  all  thofe  Secret  Socie- 
ties ;  and  the  licentious  and  irreligious  fentiments  which 
were  currently  preached  there,  were  fure  of  his  hearty 
concurrence.  The  fame  intrigue  which  procured  him 
the  fupreiTie  chair,  mud  have  hlled  the  Lodges  .with  his 
dependents  and  emiiTaries,  and  thefe  men  could  not  bet- 
ter earn  their  pay,  than  by  doing  their  utmoll  to  propa- 
gate i;ifidelityj  immorality,  and  impurity  of  manners. 

But  fomething  more  was  wanted  :  Difrefpeft  for  the 
higher  Orders  of  the  State,  and  difloyalty  to  the  Sove- 
reign.— It  is  not  fo  eafy  to  conceive  how  tliele  fenti- 
ments. and  particularly  the  latter,  could  meet  with  tole- 
ration, and  even  encouragement,  in  a  nation  noted  for 
its  profeffions  of  veneration  for  its  Monarch,  and  for  the 
pride  of  its  Noblefie.  Yet  I  am  certain,  that  fuch  doc- 
trines were  habitually  preached  in  the  Lodges  of  Phila- 
kthes,  and  Amis  Reunis  dc  la  VeriU.  That  they  Ihoukl 
be  very  current  in  Lodges  of  lovv'bom  Literati,  and 
other  Bredrren  in  inferior  ftations,  13  natural,  and  I  have 
already  faid  enough  on  this  head.  But  the  French  Lodg- 
es contained  many  gentlemen  in  eafy,  in  affluent  circum- 
Ranees.  I  do  not  expe8:  fuch  CQ^nfidence  in  my  affer- 
tions,  that  even  in  thefe  the  fame  opinions  v/efe  very 
prevalent.  I  was  therefore  mrucbpleafed  with  a  piece  of 
information  which  I  got  while  thefe  fheeu  \rerc  printing 
cfF,  which  corroborates  my  aiTertions. 


C94         'THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION-. 

This  is  a  performance  called  La  voile  retiree^  ou  k  Se- 
cret de  la  Revolution  expliquc.  par  la  Fj-anc  Magonnerie. 
It  was  written  by  a  Mr.  Lefranc,  Prefident  of  the  Semi- 
nary of  the  Eudi/ls  at  Caen  in  Normandy,  and  a  fecond 
edition  was  publiflied  at  Paris  in  1792.  The  author  was 
butchered  in  the  mafiacre  of  September.  He  fays,  that 
on  the  death  of  a  friend,  who  had  been  a  very  zealous 
Mafon,  and  many  years  Mafter  of  a  refpeQable  Lodge, 
he  found  among  his  papers  a  colle61ion  of  Mafonic  wri- 
tings, containing  the  rituals,  catechifms,  and  fymbols  of 
every  kind,  belonging  to  a  long  train  of  degrees  of  Free 
Mafonry,  together  with  many  difcourfes  delivered  in 
diiFerent  Lodges,  and  minutes  of  their  proceedings.  The 
perufal  filled  him  with  aftonifliment  and  anxiety.  For 
he  found  that  doSrines  were  taught,  and  maxims  of  con- 
dufct  were  inculcated,  which  v/ere  fubverfive  of  religion 
and  of  all  good  order  in  the  flate  ;  and  which  not  only 
countenanced  diiloyalty  and  fedition,  but  even  invited 
to  it.  He  thought  thcrn  fo  dangerous  to  the  ftate,  that 
he  fent  an  account  of  them  to  the  ArchbiOiop  of  Paris 
long  before  the  Revolution,  and  always  hoped  that  that 
Reverend  Prelate  wouJd  reprefent  the  matter  to  his  Ma- 
jefty's  Miniders,  and  that  they  would  put  an  end  to  the 
meetings  of  this  dangerous  Society,  or  would  at  leaft  re- 
ftrain  them  from  fuch  excefTes.  But  he  was  difappoint- 
ed,  and  therefore  thought  it  his  duty  to  lay  them  be- 
fore the  public* 

*  Had  the  good  man  been  fpared  biit  a  few  montlis,  his  furprife 
at  this  -negledi:  would  have  ceafed.  For,  on  die  19th  of  November 
1793,  ^^'^^  Archbifhop  of  Paris  came  to  the  Bar  of  the  Affembly, 
accompanied  by  his  Vicar  and  eleven  other  Clergymen,  who  there 
renounced  their  Chriftianity  and  their  clerical  vows  ;  acknowledg- 
ing that  they  had  played  the  villain  for  many  years  againft  their 
confcicnces,  teaching  what  they  knew  to  be  a  lie,  and  were  now  re- 
iblved   to  be  honeil:   men.     The  Vicar  indeed  had  behaved  like  it 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         295 

Mr.  Lefranc  fays  exprefsly,  that  this  fiiocking per- 
verfion  of  Free  Mafonry  to  fcditious  purpofcs  was,  in  a 
great  meafure,  but  a  late  thinf^,  and  was  chiefly  broucrht 
about  by  the  agents  of  the  Grand  Matter,  the  Duke  of 
Orleans.  He  was,  however,  of  opinion  that  the  whole 
Mafonic  Fraternity  was  hoUile  to  Chriftianity  and  la 
good  morals,  and  that  it  was  the  contrivance  of  the  great 
fchifmatic  Fauflus  Socinus,  who  being  terrified  by  the 
fate  of  Servetus,  at  Geneva,  fell  on  this  method  of  pro- 
mulgating his  dodrines  among  the  great  in  fecrct.  This 
opinion  is  but  ill  fupported,  and  is  incon::patible  with 
many  circumftances  in  Free  Mafonry — But  it  is  out  of 
our  way  at  prefent.  Mr.  Lefranc  then  takes  particular 
notice  of  the  many  degrees  of  Chivalry  cultivated  in  the 
Lodges,  and  fliows  how,  by  artful  changes  in  the  fuc- 
cellive  explanations  of  the  fame  fymbols,  the  dottrines 
of  Chriftianity,  and  of  all  revealed  religion,  are  com- 
pletely exploded,  and  the  Philofophe  Inconmt  becomes 
at  laft  a  profeffed  Atheift. — He  then  takes  notice  of  the 
political  dodrines  which  are  in  like  manner  gradually 
unfolded,  by  which  "  patriotifm  and  loyalty  to  the 
Prince  are  declared  to  be  narrow  principles,  inconfiftent 
with  univerfal  benevolence,  and  v.'ith  the  native  an«d  im- 
prefcriptible  rights  of  man  ;  civil  fubordination  is  atlual 
oppreffion,  and  Princes  are  ex  officio  ufurpers  and  ty- 
rants." Thefe  principles  be  fairly  deduces  from  the 
Catechifms  of  the  Chevalier  du  Soleil,  and  of  the  Philo- 
fophe Inconivd.  He  then  proceeds  to  notice  more  parti- 
cularly the  intrigues  of  the  Duke  of  Orleans.  From 
thefe  it  appears  evident  that  his  ambitious  views  and 
hopes  had  been  of  long  Handing,  and  that  it  was  entirely 

true  Illumhiatus  feme  time  before,  by  running  cfF'vvith  another  man's 
wife  and  his  ftrcng  box. — None  of  them,  hov/ever,  feom  to  have 
attained  the  higher  myi^.eries,  for  tliey  were  all  guillotined  notlono^ 

aibr. 


296        THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

by  his  fupport  and  encouragement  that  fedittous  doc- 
trines were  permitted  in  the  Lodges.  Many  noblemen 
and  gentlemen  were  difgufted  and  left  thefc  Lodges,  and' 
advantage  was  taken  of  their  dMehce.  to  impj-ove  the 
Lodges  Piill  more,  that  is,  to  make  them  ftill  more  anar- 
chical and  feditious.  Numbers  of  paltry  fcribblers  who 
haunted  the  Palais  Royal,  were  admitted  into  the  Lodg- 
es, and  there  vented  their  poifonous  doftrines.  The 
Duke  turned  his  chief  aitention  to  the  French  guards,  in- 
troducing many  of  the  privates  and  inferior  officers  into 
the  obfcure  and  even  the  more  refpeftable  Le^.ges,  fo 
that  the  officers  v;ere  frequently  difguiled  in  the  Lodges 
by  the  infolent  behaviour  of  their  own  foldiers,  under 
the  ma&  of  Mafonic  Brotherhood  and  Equality — and 
this  behaviour  became  not  unfrequent  even  out  of  doors. 
He  afferts  with  great  confidence  that  the  troops  were 
much  corrupted  by  thefe  intrigues — and  that  when  they 
fometimes  declared,  on  fervice,  that  they  would  not  fire 
on  their  Brethren^  the  phrafe  had  a  particular  reference 
to  their  Mafonic  Fraternity,  becaufe  they  recognifed 
many  of  their  Brother  Mafons  in  every  crowd. — And 
the  corruption  was  by  no  means  confined  to  Paris  and 
its  neighbourhood,  but  extended  to  every  place  in  the 
kingdom  where  there  was  a  Municipality  anfd  a  Mafon 
Lodge. 

Mr.  LeHanc  then  turns  our  attention  to  many  peculia 
rities  in  the  Revolution,  which  have  a  refemblance  to  the 
pra8;ices  in  Free  Mafonry.  Not  only  was  the  arch  re- 
bel the  Duke  of  Orleans  the  Grand  Mafter,  but  the  chief 
actors  in  the  Revolution,  Mirabeau,  Condorcet,  Ro- 
chefoucault,  and  others,  were  didinguifiied  office-bear- 
ers in  the  grreat  Lodges.  He  favs  that  the  diftribution 
of  France  into  departments,  diftri6ls,  circles,  cantons, 
<&c.  is  perfeflly  fimilar,  with  the  fame  denominations;  to 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         297 

a  diftribution  which  he  had  remarked  in  the  correfpon- 
dence  of  the  Grand  Orient.* — The  Prefident's  hat  in 
the  National  AfTembly  is  copied  from  that  of  a  Tres 
Vene7-ablc  Grand  Maitrc. — The  fcarf  of  a  Municipal 
Officer  is  the  fame  with  that  of  a  Brother  Apprentice. — 
When  the  Aflembly  celebrated  the  Revolution  in  the 
Cathedral,  they  accepted  of  the  highefl;  honors  of  Ma- 
fonry  by  pafiing  under  the  Arch  of  Steel,  formed  by  the 
drawn  fwords  of  two  ranks  of  Brethren. — Alfo  it  is  wor- 
thy of  remark,  that  the  National  AiTembly  protefted 
the  meetings  of  Free  Mafons,  while  it  peremptorily  pro- 
hibited every  other  private  meeting.  The  obligation  of 
laying  afide  all  ftars,  ribbands,  croffes,  and  other  ho- 
norable diftinQions  under  the  pretext  of  Fraternal  Equa- 
lity, was  not  merely  a  prelude,  but  was  intended  as  a 
preparation  for  the  deftruftion  of  all  civil  diftinQions, 
which  took  place  almoft  at  the  beginning  of  the  Revo- 
lution— and  thejirfc  propofal  of  afurrender,  fays  Mr» 
Lefranc,  was  made  by  a  zealous  Mafon. — He  farther  ob- 
ferves,  that  the  horrible  and  fanguinary  oaths,  the  dag- 
gers, death-heads,  crofs-bones,  the  imaginary  combats 
wiih  the  murderers  of  Hiram,  and  many  other  gloomy 
ceremonies,  have  a  natural  tendency  to  harden  the  heart, 
to  remove  its  natural  difguft  at  deeds  cf  horror,  and 
have  paved  the  way  for  thofe  fhocking  barbarities  which 
have  made  the  name  of  Frenchman  abhorred  over  all 
Europe.  Thefe  deeds  w^ere  indeed  perpetrated  by  a 
mob  of  fanatics;  but  the  principles  were  promulgated 
and  follered  by  perfons  who  ftyle  themfelves  philofo- 
phers. 

*  I  cannot  help  obferving,  that  it  is  perfeftly  nmilar  to  the  ar- 
rangement and  dsnominaticns  ^vhich  appear  in  the  fecret  correi- 
pondence  of  the  Bavarian  Illuminatl. 

O  o 


298        THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

I  fee  mare  evidence  of  thefe  important  fafts  in  ano- 
tlier  book  juft  publiihed  by  an  emigrant  gentleman  (Mr. 
Latocnaye.)  He  confirms  my  repeated  aifertions,  that 
all  the  irreligious  and  feditious  dotlrines  were  the  fub- 
je£ls  of  perpetual  harangues  in  the  Mafon  Lodges,  and 
that  all  the  principles  of  the  Revolution,  by  which  the 
public  mind  was  as  it  were  fet  on  fire,  were  nothing  but 
enthufiaftic  amplifications  of  the  common-place  cant  of 
Free  Mafonry,  and  arofe  naturally  out  of  it.  He  even 
thinks  "  that  this  muji  of  necejfity  be  the  cafe  in  every 
country  where  the  minds  of  the  lower  clafles  of  the  State 
are  in  any  way  confiderably  fretted  or  irritated;  it  is  al- 
moil  impoffible  to  avoid  being  drawn  into  this  vortex, 
whenever  a  difcontented  mind  enters  into  a  Mafon 
Lodge.  The  dale  ftory  of  brotherly  love,  which  at 
another  time  would  only  lull  the  hearer  afleep,  now 
makes  him  prick  up  his  ears,  and  liften  with  avidity  to 
the  filly  tale,  and  he  cannot  hinder  fretting  thoughts  from 
continually  rankling  in  his  mind." 

Mr.  Latocnaye  fays  exprefsly,  "  That  notwithftand- 
ing  the  general  contempt  of  the  public  for  the  Duke  of 
Orleans,  his  authority  as  Grand  Mafter  of  the  Mafons 
gave  him  the  greateft  opportunity  that  a  feditious  mind 
could  defire  for  helping  forward  the  Revolution.  He 
had  ready  to  his  hand  a  connected  fyflem  of  hidden  So- 
cieties, protefted  by  the  State,  habituated  to  fecrecy 
and  artifice,  and  already  tinged  with  the  very  enthufiafm 
he  wifhed  to  infpire.  Li  thefe  he  formed  political  com- 
mittees, into  which  only  his  agents  were  admitted.  He 
filled  the  Lodges  with  the  French  guards,  whom  he  cor- 
rupted with  money  and  hopes  of  preferment ;  and  by 
means  of  the  Abbe  Sieves,  and  other  emiffaries,  they 
were  harangued  with  all  the  fophiflical  declamation,  or 
cant  of  Mafonry»". 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.        29^ 

Mr.  Latocnaye  fays,  that  all  this  was  peculiar  to  the 
Lodges  of  the  Grand  Orient ;  but  that  there  were  many 
(not  very  many,  if  we  judge  by  the  Neuwied  almanac, 
which  reckons  only  289  in  all  France  in  1784,  of  which 
266  were  of  the  Grand  Orient)  Lodges  who  continued- 
on  the  old  plan  of  amufmg  themfelves  with  a  little  fo- 
lemn  trilling.  He  coincides  with  Mr.  Lefranc  in  the 
opinion  that  the  awful  and  gloomy  rituals  of  Mafonry, 
and  particularly  the  fevere  trials  of  confidence  and  fub-" 
miffion,  muft  have  a  great  tendency  to  harden  the  heart,. 
and  fit  a  man  for  atrocious  anions.  No  one  can  doubt 
of  this  who  reads  the  following  inftance  ; 

"  A  candidate  for  reception  into  one  of  the  highed 
Orders,  after  having  heard  many  threatenings  denounced 
againfl;  all  who  fhould  betray  the  Secrets  of  the  Order, 
was  condu8:ed  to  a  place  where  he  faw  the  dead  bodies 
of  feveral  who  were  faid  to  have  fuffered  for  fheir  trea- 
chery. He  then  faw  his  own  brother  tied  hand  and  foot, 
begging  his  mercy  and  interceOTion.  He  was  informed 
that  this  perfon  was  about  to  fuffer  the  punifhment  due 
to  this  ofience,  and  that  it  was  referved  for  him  (the  can- 
didate) to  be  the  inftrument  of  this  juft  vengeance,  and 
that  this  gave  him  an  opportunity  of  manifefting  that  he 
was  completely  devoted  to  the  Order.  It  being  obfcrv- 
ed  that  his  countenance  gave  figns  of  inward  horror  (the 
perfon  in  bonds  imploring  his  mercy  all  the  while)  he 
was  told,  that  in  order  to  fpare  his  feelings,  a  bandage 
fhould  be  put  over  his  eyes.  A  dagger  was  then  put  in- 
to his  right  hand,  and  being  hood-winked,  his  left  hand 
was  laid  on  the  palpitating  heart  of  th«  criminal,  and  he 
was  then  ordered  to  drike.  He  indantly  obeyed  ;  and 
when  the  bandage  was  taken  from  his  eyes,  he  faw  that 
it  was- a  lamb  that  he  had  ftabbed.  Surely  fuch  trials  and 
fachv/anton  cruelty  are  only  fit  for  training  confpirators.'" 


Soo         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

Mr,  Latocnaye  adds,  that  "  when  he  had  been  initia- 
ted, an  old  gentleman  afked  him  what  he  thought  of  the 
whole  ?"  He  anfwered,  "  A  great  deal  of  noife,  and 
much  nonfenfe."  "  Nonfenfe,  faid  the  other,  don't 
judge  fo  rafhly,  young  man  ;  I  have  worked  thefe  twen- 
ty-five years,  and  the  farther  I  advanced,  it  interefted  me 
the  more  ;  but  I  ftopped  fliort,  and  nothing  (hall  prevail 
on  me  to  advance  a  flep  farther."  In  another  conver- 
fation  the  gentleman  faid,  "  I  imagine  that  my  ftoppage 
was  owing  to  my  refufal  about  nine  years  ago,  to  liften  to 
fome  perfons  who'  made  to  me,  out  of  the  Lodge,  pro- 
pofals  which  were  feditious  and  horrible ;  for  ever  fince 
that  time  I  have  remarked,  that  my  higher  Brethren  treat 
me  with  a  much  greater  referve  than  they  had  done  be- 
fore ;  and  that,  under  the  pretext  of  further  inftru6lion, 
they  have  laboured  to  confute  the  notions  which  I  had 
already  acquired,  by  giving  fome  of  the  mod  delicate 
fubjefts  a  different  turn.  I  faw  that  they  wanted  to  re- 
move fome  fufpicions  which  I  was  beginning  to  form 
concerning  the  ultimate  fcope  of  the  whole." 

I  imagine  that  thefe  obfervations  will  leave  no  doubt 
in  the  mind  of  the  reader  with  refpeft  to  the  influence 
of  the  fecret  Fraternity  of  Free  Mafonry  in  the  French 
Revolution,  and  that  he  will  allow  it  to  be  highly  pro- 
bable that  the  infamous  Duke  of  Orleans  had,  from  the 
beginning,  entertained  hopes  of  mounting  the  throne  of 
France.  It  is  not  my  province  to  prove  or  difprove 
this  point,  only  I  think  it  no  lefs  evident,  from  many 
circumftances  in  the  tranfaftions  of  thofe  tumultuous 
days,  that  the  active  leaders  had  quite  diflerent  views, 
and  were  impelled  by  fanatical  notions  of  democratic  fe- 
licity, or,  more^  probably,  by  their  own  ambition  to  be 
the  movers  of  this  vafl:  machine,  to  overturn  the  ancient 
government,  and  erecl  a  republic,  of  which  they  hoped 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         304 

to  be  the  managers.*  Mirabeau  had  learned  when  in 
Germany,  that  the  principles  of  anarchy  had  been  well 
digefted  into  a  fyftem,  and  therefore  wifhed  for  fome  in- 
flruclion  as  to  the  fubordinate  detail  of  the  bufmefs,  and 
for  this  purpofe  requeued  a  deputation  from  the  Illur- 
minati. 

In  fuch  a  caufe  as  this,  we  may  be  certain  that  no  or- 
dinary perfon  would  be  fent.  One  of  the  deputies  was 
Amelius,  the  next  perfon  in  the  order  to  Spartacus  and 
Philo,  His  worldly  name  was  Johann.  J.  C.  Bode,  at 
Weinpar,  privy-counfellor  to  the  Prince  of  Hefle-Darm- 
ftadt  (See  Fragment e  der  Biagraphie  dcs  verjiorbenei- 
Freyhtrr  Bode  in  Weimar^  mit  zuverlajjigzn  Urkunderii 
^vo.  Riom.  1795.  See  al fo  Endlichc  Shickfall  dcr  Frey- 
maurerey,  1794;  S-Uo  Wiener  Zeilfchrift  fur  ijg^.) — 
This  perfon  has  played  a  principal  part  in  the  whole 
fcheme  of  Illumination.  He  was  a  perfon  of  <:onfidera- 
ble  and  fliowy  talents  as  a  writer.  He  had  great  talents 
for  converfation,  and  had  kept  good  company.  With 
relpecl  to  his  myftical  character,  his  experience  was  great. 
He  was  one  of  the    Templar    Mafons,  and  among  them 

*  The  depofidons  at  the  Ch.itelet,  which  I  have  ali'ead'/  quoted, . 
give  repeated  and  unequivocal  proofs,  that  he,  with  a  conlidera- 
ble  number  of  the  deputies  of  the  National  AiTemiily,  had  formed 
this  plot  before  the  5th  of  Odtober  1789.  That  trial  was  condu'ft- 
ed  in  a  ftrange  manner,  parti 5^  out  of  refped  for  the  Royal  F.itnriY» 
which  ftill  had  feme  hearts  aileftionately  attached  to  it,  and  to  thi 
monarchy,  and  partly  by  reafon  of  the  fears  of  the  members  of  this 
court.  There  was  now  no  fafety  for  any  perfon  who  di&red  from 
tlie  opinion  of  the  frantic  populace  of  Paris.  The  chief  pcir.ts  of 
accufation  were  written  in  a  fchedule  which  is  net  pubiiihed,  'ar.d 
the  witne/Tes  were  ordered  to  depofe  on  thefe  in  one  general  If'  es  or 
or  No  5  fo  that  it  is  only  the  leait  important  part  cl  the  evidence 
that  has  been  printed.  I  am  well  informed  that  the  whole  of  k  if, 
carefully  prefsrved,  and  will  cue  day  ?.ppear^ 


302         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

was  Eques  a  Liliis  Convallium.  He  had  fpeculated 
much  about  the  origin  and  hiftory  of  Mafonry,  and  when 
at  the  Willemlbad  convention,  was  converted  to  lUumi- 
natifm.  He  was  the  great  inftigator  of  Nicholai,  Ge- 
dicke,  and  Biefter,  to  the  hunt  after  Jefuits,  which  fo 
much  occupied  them,  and  fuggefted  to  Nicholai  his  jour- 
ney through  Germany.  Leuchtfenring,  \vhom  I  men- 
tioned before,  was  only  the  letter-carrier  between  Bode 
and  thefe  three  authors.  He  was  juft  fuch  a  man  as 
Weifhaupt  wiflied  for  ;  his  head  filled  with  Mafonic  fa- 
naticifm,  attaching  infinite  importance  to  the  frivolities 
of  Mafonry,  and  engaged  in  an  enthufiaftic  and  fruitlefs 
refearch  after  its  origin  and  hiftory.  He  had  coUetled, 
however,  fuch  a  number  of  archives  (as  they  were  called) 
of  Free  Mafonry,  that  he  fold  his  manufcript  to  the 
Duke  of  Saxe  Gotha  (into  whofe  fervice  Weifhaupt  en- 
gaged himfelf  when  he  was  driven  from  Bavaria)  for  1500 
dahlers.  This  little  anecdote  fliows  the  high  importance 
attributed  to  thefe  matters  by  perfons  of  whom  we  fhould 
expeSl  better  things.  Bode  was  alfo  a  mofl  determined 
and  violent  materialifl.  Befides  all  thefe  qualities,  fo 
acceptable  to  the  Illuminati,  he  was  a  difcontented 
Templar  Mafon,  having  been  repeatedly  difappointed  of 
the  preferment  which  he  thought  himfelf  entitled  to. 
When  he  learned  that  the  firfl  operations  of  the  Illumi- 
nati were  to  be  the  obtaining  the  fole  direftion  of  the 
Mafon  Lodges,  and  of  the  whole  Fraternity,  his  hopes 
revived  of  rifmg  to  fome  of  the  Commanderies,  which 
his  enthufiafm,  or  rather  fanaticifm,  had  made  him  hope 
ta  fee  one  day  regained  by  the  Order — but  when  he 
found  that  the  next  and  favorite  object  was  to  root  out 
the  StriH  Ohfervanz  altogether,  he  ftarted  back.  But 
Philo  faw  that  the  underftanding  (fhall  we  call  it)  that 
can  be  dazzled  with  one  whim,  may  be  dazzled  with 
another,  and  he  now  attached  him  to  liluminatifm,  by  a' 


THE  JFRENCH  REVOLUTION.        303 

magnificent  difplay  of  a  world  ruled  by  the  Order,  and 
conduced  to  happinefs  by  means  of  Liberty  and  Equa- 
lity. This  did  the  bufinefs,  as  we  fee  by  the  private 
correfpondence,  where  Philo  informs  Spartacus  of  his 
firft  difficulties  with  Amelius.  Amelius  was  gained  over 
in  Auguft  1782,  and  we  fee  by  the  fame  correfpondence, 
that  the  greateft  affairs  were  foon  entrufted  to  him — he 
was  generally  employed  to  deal  with  the  great.  When  a 
Graf  or  a  Baron  was  to  be  wheedled  into  the  Order,  Ame- 
lius was  the  a^ent. — He   was  alfo  the  chief  ODerator  in 

O  1. 

all  their  contefts  with  the  Jefuits  and  the  Rofycrucians. 
It  was  alfo  Bode  that  procured  the  important  acceffion 
of  Nicholai  to  the  Order.  This  he  brought  about 
through  Leuchtfenring  ;  and  laftly,  his  numerous  con- 
nexions among  the  Free  Mafons,  together  with  Knigge's 
influence  among  them,  enabled  the  Illuminati  to  worm 
themfeives  into  every  Lodge,  and  at  iail  gave  them  al- 
moft  the  entire  command  of  the  Fraternity. 

Such  was  the  firft  of  the  deputies  to  France.  The 
other  was  a  Mr.  Buffche,  called  in  the  Order  Bayard  ; 
therefore  probably  a  man  of  refpeQable  chara6ler  ;  for 
moft  of  Spartacus's  names  were  fignificant,  like  his  own. 
He  was  a  military  man,  Lieutenant-Colonel  in  the  fcrvice 
of  Heffe-Darmftadt.  This  man  alfo  was  a  difcontented 
Templar  Mafon,  and  his  name  in  that  Fraternity  had 
been  Eques  a  Fontibus  Ere?ni.  He  was  Illuminated  by 
Knigge.  He  had  alfo  been  unfuccefsful  both  at  court 
and  in  the  field,  in  both  of  which  fituations  he  had  been 
attempting  to  make  a  diftinguifhed  figure.  He,  as  well 
as  Bode,  were  immerfed  in  debts.  They  were  therefore 
juft  in  the  proper  temper  for  Cofmo-political  enterprife. 

They  went   to  Paris   in  the  end  of  1788,  while  the 
Notables  were  fitting,  and  all   Paris  was  giving  advide. 


304         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

The  alarm  that  M'as  raifed  about  Animal  Magnetlfm, 
v;hich  was  indeed  making  much  noife  at  that  time,  and 
particularly  in  Paris,  was  affigned  by  them  as  the  great 
inotive  of  the  journey.  Bode  alfo  faid  that  he  was  anx- 
ious to  learn  what  were  the  correftions  made  on  the  fyf- 
lem  of  the  Chevaliers  Bienjaijants.  They  had  taken 
that  name  at  firft,  to  fcreen  themfelves  from  the  charges 
againft  them  under  the  name  of  Templars.  They  had 
corrcQed  fomething  in  their  fyftem  when  they  took  the 
name  Philalethes.  And  now  when  the  fchifms  of  the 
Fhilalethes  were  healed,  arid  the  Brethren  again  united 
under  the  name  of  Arras  Reunis^  he  fufpefted  that  Je- 
fuits  had  interfered  ;  and  becaufe  he  had  heard  that  the 
principles  of  the  Amis  Reunis  were  very  noble,  he  wifii- 
ed  to  be  more  certain  that  they  were  purged  of  every 
thing  Jefuitical. 

The  deputies  accordingly  arrived  at  Paris,  and  im- 
rTicdiately  obtained  admiOion  into  thefe  two  Fraternities.* 
They  found  both  of  them  in  the  ripeft  ftate  for  Illumi- 
nation, having  fliaken  off  all  the  cabaliftical,  chemical, 
and  myfiical  whims   that  had  formierly  difhurbed  them, 

*  To  prevent  interruptions,  ImayjuO:  mention  here  the  autho- 
rities for  this  journey  and  co-operation  of  the  two  deputies. 

1.  Ein  lu'icht'iger  Atilfchlufs  uher  sin  noch  ivenig  bekanntt  Veranhf- 
fting  der  Franzojchm  Re'voiutlon,  in  the  Vienna  Zeitfchrift    for  I793r 

2.  EiidUche  Shlcifall  des  Freymaurer-Ordens,  1794,  p.  1 9. 

3.  Neuejle  Arbeitung  des  Spartacus  und Philoy  Munich ^  1793?  P*  ^S^ 
—  154. 

4.  Hlftorifche  Nachrkhten  uber  die  Franc  Revolution  1792,  von  Gir- 
tanner,  var.  he. 

5.  Revolutions  Almanachfur  I'jgz — 4.    GoUingen,  var.  loc. 

6i   Beytrage  %ur  Biographie  des  verflorbenes  Frey-Herr  v  Boae,  1754« 
7.   Magazin  des  Liter atur  et  Kiwjly  for  1792,   3,  4,  &c.  &;c. 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.        305 

and  would  now  take  up  too  much  of  their  time.  They 
"weienowcuhivating  with  great  zeal  the  philofbphico-po- 
litical  doftrines  of  univerfal  citizenfhip.  Their  leaders, 
■to  the  number  of  twenty,  are  mentioned  by  name  in  the 
Bedin  Monatfchrift  for  1785,  and  among  them  are  fe- 
veral  of  the  firft  atlors  in  the  French  Revolution.  But 
this  is  nothing  diftinBive,  becaufe  perfons  of  all  opi- 
nions were  Mafons. 

The  Amis  Reunis  were  little  behind  the  Illuminati  in 
<5very  thing  that  was  irreligious  and  anarchichal,  and  had 
ho  inclination  for  any  of  the  formalities  of  ritual,  &:c. 
They  were  already  fit  for  the  higher  myfteries,  and  only 
wanted  to  learn  the  methods  of  bufmefs  which  had  fuc- 
ceeded  fo  Well  in  fp reading  their  do6irines  and  maxims 
over  Germany,  Befides,  their  do6lrines  had  not  been 
digefted  into  a  fyftem,  nor  had  the  artful  methods  of 
leading  on  the  pupils  from  bad  to  worfe  been  praclifed. 
^MDrhitherto,  each  individual  had  vented  in  the  Lodges 
his  own  opinions,  to  unburden  his  own  mind,  and  the 
Brethren  liftened  for  inftruQion  and  mutual  encourage- 
ment. Therefore,  when  Spartacus's  plan  was  commu- 
nicated to  them,  they  faw  at  once  its  importance,  in  all 
its  branches,  fuch  as  the  ufe  of  the  Mafon  Lodges,  to 
filh  for  Minervals — the  rituals  and  ranks  to  entice  the 
young,  and  to  lead  them  by  degrees  to  opinions  and 
meafures,  which,  at  firft  fight,  would  have  fhocked 
them.  The  firm  hold  which  is  gotten  of  the  pupils,  and 
indeed  of  all  the  inferior  clafTes,  by  their  reports  in  the 
courfe  of  their  pretended  training  in  the  knowledge  of 
themfelves  and  of  other  men — and,  above  all,  the  pro- 
vincial arrangement  of  the  Order,  and  the  clever  fubor- 
dination  and  entire  dependence  on  a  fele6l  band  or  Pan- 
dsemonium  at  Paris,  which  fhould  infpire  and  dire6t'the 


3o5        THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTIONS 

^vhole. — I  think  (although  I  have  not  exprefs  aflertionff 
of  the  fa8;)  from  the  fubfequent  conduct  of  the  French 
revolvers,  that  even  at  this  early  period,  there  were  ma^ 
ny  in  thofe  focieties  who  were  ready  to  go  every  length 
propofed  to  them  by  the  Ilkiminad,  fuch  as  the  aboli- 
tion of  royalty  and  of  all  privileged  orders,  as  tyrants  by 
nature,  the  annihilation  and  robbery  of  the  priefthood, 
the  rooting  out  of  Chriftianity,  and  the  introduction  of 
Atheifm,  or  a  philofophical  chimera  which  they  were  to 
call  Religion.  Mirabeau  had  often  fpoken  of  the  laft 
branch  of  the  Illuminated  principles,  and  the  converfa- 
tions  held  at  Verfailles  during  the  awful  paufes  of  the  5th 
of  08ober  (which  are  to  be  feen  in  the  evidence  before 
the  Chatelet  in  the  Orleans  procefs)  can  hardly  be  fup- 
pofed  to  be  the  fancies  of  an  accidental  mob. 


Mirabeau  was,  as  I  have  faid,  at  the  head  of  this  de- 
mocratic party,  and  had  repeatedly  faid,  that  the  only 
ufe  of  a  King  was  to  fervc  as  a  pageant,  in  order  to  gi^e 
weight  to  public  meafures  in  the  opinion  of  the  popu- 
lace.— And  Mr.  Latocnaye  fays,  that  this  party  was 
very  numerous,  and  that  immediately  after  the  impru- 
dent or  madlike  invitation  of  every  fcribbler  in  a  garret 
to  give  his  advice,  the  party  did  not  fcruplc  to  fpeak 
their  fentiments  in  public,  and  that  they  were  encourag- 
ed in  their  encomiums  on  the  advantages  or  a  virtuous 
republican  government  by  Mr.  Necker,  who  had  a  moft 
extravagant  and  childifh  predileftion  for  the  conftitution 
of  Geneva,  the  place  of  his  nativity,  and  was  alfo  much 
tinged  with  the  Cofmo-political  philofophy  of  the  times. 
The  King's  brothers,  and  the  Princes  of  the  blood,  pre- 
fented  a  memorial  to  his  Majelty,  which  concluded  by 
faying,  that  "  the  effervefcojice  of  the  public  opinions 
had  come  to  fuch  a  height  that  the  raoft  dangerous  pria- 
ciplesj  imported   from   foreign  parts,  were  avowed  ia 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         307 

pTintwith  perfeft  impunity — that  his  Majefty  had  un- 
warily encouraged  every  fanatic  to  dictate  to  him,  and 
to  fpread  his  poifonous  fentiments,  in  which  the  rights 
of  the  throne  were  not  only  difrefpefted,  but  were  even 
difputed — that  the  rights  of  the  higher  clafTes  in  the  ftate 
ran  a  great  rifk  of  being  fpeedily  fupprefled,  and  that 
nothing  would  hinder  the  facred  right  of  property  from 
being  ere  long  invaded,  and  the  unequal  diftribution  of 
wealth  from  being  thought  a  proper  fubjeQ.  of  reform.*' 

When  fuch  was  the  ftate  of  things  in  Paris,  it  is  plain 
that  the  bufmefs  of  the  German  deputies  would  be  eafily 
tranfa6led.  They  were  received  with  open  arms  by  the 
Fhilaletkes,  the  Amis  de  la  Verite,  the  Social  ContraB, 
&c.  and  in  the  courfe  of  a  very  few  weeks  in  the  end  of 
1788,  and  the  beginning  of  1789  (that  is,  before  the 
end  of  March)  the  whole  of  the  Grand  Orient,  includ- 
ing the  Philalethec,  Amis  Reunis,  Mariini/les,  &c.  had 
the  fecrets  of  Illumination  communicated  to  them.  The 
operation  naturally  began  with  the  Great  National 
Lodge  of  Paris,  and  thofe  in  immediate  dependence  on 
it.  It  v/ould  aifo  feera,  from  many  circuraPiances  that 
t3ccurred  to  my  obfervation,  that  the  Lodges  in  Alface 
and  Lorraine  were  illuminated  at  this  time,  and  not  long 
before,  as  I  had  imagined.  Strafburg  I  know  had  been 
illuminated  long  ago,  while  Philo  was  in  the  Order.  A 
circumftance  ftrikes  me  here  as  of  fome  moment.  The 
feds  of  Philalethes  and  Amis  Reunis  were  refinements 
engrafted  on  the  fyftem  of  the  Chevaliers  Bienfaijants  at 
Lyons.  Such  refinements  never  fail  to  be  confidcred 
as  a  fort  of  herefy,  and  the  profeffors  will  be  beheld 
with  a  jealous  and  unfriendly  eye  by  fomc,  who  wilt 
pride  themfelves  on  adhering  to  t'ne  old  faith.  And  the 
greater  the  fuccefs  of  the  herefy,  the  greater  will  be  the' 
ar.imofity  between  the   parties. — May  not  this  h-^Ip  to 


^o8         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

explain  the  mutual  hatred  of  the  Parifians  and  the  Ly- 
onnois,  which  produced  the  moft  dreadful  atrocities  ever 
perpetrated  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  made  a  fham- 
bles  and  a  defert  of  the  fined  city  of  France  ? 

The  firft  proceeding  by  the  advice  of  the  deputies  was 
the  formation  of  a  Political  Committee  in  every  Lodge. 
This  committee  correfpondcd  with  the  dillant  Lodges, 
and  in  it  were  difcuiTed  and  fettled  all  the  pohtical  prin- 
ciples which  were  to  be  inculcated  on  the  members. 
The  author  of  the  N tut  jit  Arbuiung  fays  exprefsly,  that 
"  he  was  thoroughly  inftrutted  in  this,  that  it  was  given 
in  charge  to  thefe  committees  to  frame  general  rules,  and 
to  carry  through  the  great  plan  (grand  ctuwt)  of  a  ge- 
neral overturning  of  religion  and  government."  The 
principal  leaders  of  the  fubfequent  Revolution  were 
members  of  thefe  committees.  Here  were  the  plans 
laid,  and  they  were  tranfmitted  through  the  kingdom  by 
the  Correfponding  Committees. 

Thus  were  the  ftupid  Bavarians  (as  the  French  were 
once  pleafed  to  call  them)  their  inftru8.ors  in  the  art  of 
overturning  the  world.  The  French  were  indeed  the 
^rft  who  put  it  in  pra61ice.  Thefe  committers  arofe 
from  the  Illuminati  in  Bavaria,  who  had  by  no  means 
given  over  working ;  and  thefe  committees  produced 
the  Jacobin  Club.  It  is  not  a  frivolous  remark,  that 
the  Mafonic  phrafe  of  the  perfons  who  wifh  to  addrefs 
the  Brethren,  "  (F.  S.  je  dcmandc  la  paroU^  which  the 
F.  S.  reports  to  the  V.  G.  M.  and  which  he  announces 
to  the  Brethren  thus,  "  Mtsfrcrts^frtrt  ttl  dtmande  la 
parole^  la  parolt  lui  tjl  accordee,")  is  exaSlly  copied  by 
the  Jacobin  Club.  There  is  furely  no  natural  connec- 
tion between  Free  Mafonry  ^nd  Jacobinifm — but  we 
fee  the  link — Illuminatifm,-- 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         309 

The  office-bearers  of  one  of  the  Lodges  of  Philalcthes 
in  Paris  were  Martin,  Willermooz  (who  had  been  depa- 
ly  from  the  Chevaliers  Bievjaijants  to  the  Willerr.fbad 
Convention)  Chappe,  Minei,  de  la  Henriere^  and  5^^;^- 
tier  de  VAnge.*  In  another  (the  ContraB  Social)  the 
political  committee  confilted  of  La  Fayette,  Condorcet^ 
Pethion,  dWrleans,  Abbe  Bertholisj  d' Aiguillon,  Bailly^ 
Marq.  de  la  Salle,  Defprefmenil.  This  partciular  Lodge 
had  been  founded  and  conduced  by  one  De  LnUre,  an 
adventurer  and  cheat  of  the  firft  magnitude,  who  fonie^ 
times  made  a  figure,  and  at  other  times  was  without  a 
ihilling.  At  this  very  time  he  was  a  fpy  attached  to  the 
©ffice  of  the  police  of  Paris.t  The  Duke  nf  Orleans  was 
Warden  of  the  Lodge.  The  Abbe  Sicyes  was  a  Brother 
Orator,  but  not  of  this  Lodge,  nor  (I  think)  of  the  former. 
It  was  probably  of  the  one  conducted  by  Mirabeau  and 

*  Minet  was  (I  think)  at  this  time  a  player.  He  was-fon  of  a 
furo-eon  at  Nantes — robbed  his  father  and  fled — enhfted  in  Holland 

o 

— deferted  and  became  fmuggler — was  taken  and  burnt  in  tlie 
hand — became  player,  and  married  an  aiflrefs — then  became  prieft 
' — and  was  made  Billiop  of  Nantes  by  Couftard  in  difcharge  of  a 
debt  of  L.  500.  Mr.  Latocnaye-  often  faw  Couftard  kneel  to  him 
for  benediction.  It  cannot  be  fuppofed  that  he  was  mnch  venerat- 
c.l  in  his  pontificals  in  his  native  city. — It  feems  Mine;,  Minet,  is 
the  call  of  the  chiiiiren  to  a,  kitten — This  was  prohibited  at  Nantes, 
and  many  perfons  whipped  for  the  freedom  ufed  with  his  name. 

f  He  now  (or  very  lately)  keeps  the  bed  company,  and  lives  in 
elegance  and  affluence  in  London. 

yJitgur,  fchtF.nohates  medicus^  magusy  omnia  novit 

Grxculus  efur'uns  ;   in  calum jifjferts,   ibit,^ 

Jngenlum  velox  audacia  perdtta,  fermo 

Promptus. Juvenal. 

*  All  fciences  a  hungry  Frenchman  knows, 
And  bid  him  go  to  he^ — to  hell  he  goes. 

johnfon's  Tranjlallon. 


310   "     THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

the  Abbe  Perigord.  But  it  appears  from  the  piece  from 
sivhich  I  am  at  prefent  borrowing,  that  Sieyes  was  prefent 
in  the  meetings  of  both  Lodges,  probably  as  vifiting  Bro- 
ther, employed  in  bringing  them  to  common  meafures. 
I  muft  obferve,  that  the  fubfequent  conduft  of  fome  of 
thefe  men  does  not  juft  accord  with  my  conjefture,  that 
the  principles  of  the  lUuminati  were  adopted  in  their  full 
extent.  But  we  know  that  all  the  Bavarian  Brethren 
were  not  equally  illuminated,  and  it  would  be  only  co- 
pying their  teachers  if  the  clevereft  of  thefe  their  fcho- 
lars  Ihould  hold  a.fanBumfan^orum  among  themfelves, 
without  inviting  all  to  the  conference^  Obferve  too 
that  the  chief  leffon  which  they  were  now  taking  from 
the  Germans  was  the  method  of  doing  bujinefs,  of  manag- 
ing their  correfpondence,  and  of  procuring  and  training 
pupils.  A  Frenchman  does  not  think  that  he  needs  in- 
ilru6lion  in  any  thing  like  principle  or  fcience.  He  is 
ready  on  all  occauons  to  be  the  inftruftor. 

Thus  were  the  Lodges  of  France  converted  in  a  very 
Ihort  time  into  a  fet  of  fecret  affiliated  focieties,  corref- 
ponding  with  the  mother  Lodges  of  Paris,  receiving 
from  thence  their  principles  and  inllructions,  and  ready 
to  rife  up  at  once  when  called  upon,  to  carry  on  the 
great  work  of  overturning  the  ftate. 

Hence  it  has  arifen  that  the  French  aimed, in  the  veny 
beginning,  at  overturning  the  whole  world.  In  all  the 
revolutions  of  other  countries,  the  fchemes  and  plots 
have  extended  no  farther  than  the  nation  where  they  took 
their  rife.  But  here  we  have  feen  that  they  take  in  the 
whole  world.  They  have  repeatedly  declared  this  in 
their  manifeftos,  and  they  have  declared  it  by  their  cpn- 
duft.  This  is  the  very  aim  of  the  Illuminati. — Hence 
too  may  be  explained  how  the  revolution  took  place  aL 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         ^^t 

mofl;  in  a  moment  in  every  part  of  France.  The  revo- 
lutionary focieties  were  early  formed,  and  were  working 
in  fecret  before  the  opening  of  the  National  Aflembly, 
and  the  whole  nation  changed,  and  changed  again,  and 
again,  as  if  by  beat  of  drum.  Thofe  duly  initiated  in 
this  myftery  of  iniquity  were  ready  everywhere  at  a  call. 
And  we  fee  Weifnaupt's  wifli  accompJifhed  in  an  unex- 
pe6led  degree,  and  the  debates  in  a  club  giving  laiSvs  to 
folemn  alfemblies  of  the  nation,  and  all  France  bending 
the  neck  to  the  city  of  Paris.  The  members  of  the  club 
are  lUuminati,  and  fo  are  a  great  part  of  their  correfpon- 
dents. — Each  operates  in  the  (late  as  a  Miiierval  would 
do  in  the  Order,  and  the  whole  goes  on  with  fyllematic 
regularity.  The  fam.ous  Jacobin  Club  was  jufl  one  of 
thefe  Lodges,  as  has  been  already  obferved  ;  and  as, 
among  individuals,  one  commonly  takes  the  lead,  and 
contrives  for  the  reft,  fo  it  has  happened  on  the  prefent 
occafion,  that  this  Lodge,  fupported  by  Orleans  and 
Mirabeau,  was  the  one  that  ftepped  forth  and  fhewed  it- 
fclf  to  the  world,  and  thus  became  the  oracle  of  the  par- 
ty ;  and  all  the  reft  only  echoed  its  difcourfes,  and  at 
laft  allowed  it  to  give  law  to  the  whole,  and  even  to  ruls 
the  kingdom.  It  is  to  be  remarked  too  that  the  found- 
ers of  the  club  at  Mejitz  were  lUuminati  (Relig.  Bege- 
benh.  1793.  p.  448-)  before  the  Revolution,  and  corref- 
ponded  with  another  Lodge  at  Stralburg;  and  thefe  two 
produced  mighty  effefls  during  the  year  1790.  In  a 
performance  called  Mevioircs  Pojihuines  de  Cvftine  it  is 
laid  that  when  that  General  was  bending  his  courfe  to 
Holland,  the  lUuminati  at  Straiburg,  Worms,  and  Spire 
immediately  formed  clubs,  and  invited  him  into  th:it 
quarter,  and,  by  going  to  Mentz  and  encouraging  their 
Brethren  in  that  city,  they  raifed  a  party  againft  the  gar- 
rifon,  and  atluallv  delivered  up  the  place  to  the  French 
army. 


312         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

A  little  book,  juft  now  printed  with  the  title  Paragra- 
phen.^  fays,  that  Zimmerman,  of  whom  I  have  fpokea 
more  than  once,  went  to  France  to  preach  liberty.  He 
was  employed  as  a  milfionary  of  Revolution  in  Alface, 
vhere  he  had  formerly  been  a  moft  fucccfsful  miffionary 
<)f  Illuminatifin.  Of  his  former  proceedings  the  follow- 
ing is  a  curious  anecdote.  Fie  connefled  himfelf  with  a 
highfy  accompliihed  and  beautiful  w^oman,  whofe  con- 
verfation  had  fuch  charms,  that  he  fays  flie  gained  him 
near  a  hundred  converts  in  Spire  alone.  Some  perfons 
of  high  rank,  and  great  exterior  dignity  of  charafter,  had 
felt  more  tender  impreffions — and  when  the  lady  inform- 
ed them  of  certain  confequences  to  their  reputation, 
they  were  glad  to  compound  matters  with  her  friend  Mr. 
Zimmerman,  who  either  paffed  for  her  hulband,  or  took 
the  fcandal  on  himfelf.  He  made  above  1500  Louis 
d'ors  in  this  way.  When  he  returned,  as  a  preacher  of 
Revolution,  he  i^ed  to  mount  the  pulpit  with  a  fabre  iri 
his  hand,  and  bawl  out,  "  Behold,  Frenchmen,  this  is 
your  God.  This  alone  can  fave  you."  The  author 
adds,  that  when  Cuftine  broke  into  Germiany,  Zimmer- 
man got  admiffion  to  him,  and  engaged  to  deliver  Man- 
heim  into  his  hands.  To  gain  this  purpofe,  he  offered 
to  fet  fome  corners  of  the  city  on  fire,  and  affured  him  of 
fupport.  Cuftine  declined  the  offer. — Zimmerman  ap- 
peared againft  him  before  the  Revolutionary  Tribunal, 
and  accufed  him  of  treachery. to  his  caufe, — Cuftine's 
anfwer  is  remarkable.  "  Hardly,"  faid  he,  "  had  I  fet 
my  foot  in  Germany,  when  this  man,  and  all  the  fools  of 
his  country,  befieged  me,  and  would  have  delivered  up 
to  me  their  towns  and  villages — What  occafion  had  I  to 
do  any  thing  to  Manheim,  when  the  Prince  was  neutral  ?''' 
Zimmerman  found  his  full  account  in  Robefpierre's 
bloody  fway — but  the  fpurt  of  his  atrocities  w-as  alfo  the 
whole  of  Zimmerman's  career.     He  was  arrefled,  but- 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.^        31;^ 

again  liberated,  and  foon  after  again  imprifoned,  after 
which  I  can  learn  no  more  of  him.  The  fame  thing  is 
pofitively  afierted  in  another  performance,  called  Cri  de 
la  Raifon,  and  in  a  third,  called  Les  Mafques  arrachees, 
Obferve  too,  that  it  is  not  the  clubs  merely  that  are  ac-. 
cufed  of  this  treachery,  but  the  Illuminati.  De  la  Me- 
thcrie  alfo,  in  his  preface  to  the  Journal  de  Phyftque  for. 
1790,  fays  exprefsly  that  ^'  the  caufe  and  arms  of  France 
were  powerfully  fupported  in  Germany  by  a  feftofphi-^ 
lofophers  called  the  Illuminated."  In  "the  preface  td 
the  Journal  ^ox  1792,  he  fays,  that  "  Letters  and  de- 
putations were  received  by  the  AfTembly  from  feveraf 
Correfponding  Societies  in  England,  felicitating  them 
on  the  triumph  of  Reafon  and  Humanity,  and  promifm^ 
them  their  cordial  affiflance."  He  read  fome  of  thefd 
manifefts,  and  fays,  that  "  one  of  them  recoi^mehde<J 
ftrongly  the  political  education  of  the  children,  who 
fhould  be  taken  from  the  parents,  and  trained  up  for  thd 
fl:ate."  Another  lamented  the  baleful  influence  of  pro- 
perty, faying  that  "  the  efforts  of  the  Afiembly  wotfFd 
be  fruitlefs,  till  tbe  fence  was  removed  with  which  th^ 
laws  fo  anxioufly  fecured  inor<iinate  wealth.  They 
fliould  rather  be  direfted  to  the  fupport  of  -  talents  and 
virtue  ;  bccaufe  property  would  always  fupport  itfelf  by 
the  too  great  influence  which  it  had  in  every  corrupted 
ftate.  The  laws  fhould  prevent  the  too  great  accumu- 
lation of  it  in  particular  families." — In  fliort,  the  coun- 
fel  Was  almofl  verbatim  what  the  Abbe  CofTandey  de- 
clared to  have  been  the  doftrine  preached  in  the  meetings 
of  the  Illuininati,  which  terrified  him  and  his  colleagues, 
and  made  them  quit  the  Affociation.  Anacharfis  Cloots, 
born  in  PrufTian  Weflphalia,  a  keen  Illuminatus,  came 
to  Pari«  for  the"  exprefs  purpofe  of  forwarding  the  great 
zvarij  and  by  intriguing  in   the  ftyle  of  the-  Ordef .  he 


014         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

got  himfelf  made  one  of  the  Reprefentatives  of  the  Na- 
tion. He  feems  to  have  been  one  of  the  completeft  fa- 
natics in  Cofmo-politifm,  and  juft  fucha  tool  as  Weif- 
haupt  would  choofe  to  employ  for  a  coarfe  and  arduous 
job.  He  broke  out  at  once  into  all  the  filly  extrava- 
gance of  the  unthinking  herd,  and  his  whole  language  is 
juft  the  jargon  of  Illumination.  Citizen  of  the  World 
-r-Liberty  and  Equality,  the  imprefcriptible  Rights  of 
Man — Morality,  dear  Morality — Kings  and  Priefts  are 
ufelefs  things-^they  are  Depots  and  Corrupters,  <&:c. — 
He  declared  himfelf  an  atheift,  and  zealoufly  laboured 
to  have  atheifm  eftabliOied  by  law.  He  conducted  that 
farcical  proc^ffion  in  the  true  ftyle  of  the  moft  childifh 
ritual  of  Philo,  where  counterfeited  deputies  from  all 
quarters  of  the  world,  in  the  dreffes  of  their  countries, 
came  to  congratulate  the  nation  for  its  viBory  over 
Kings  and  Priefts.  It  is  alfo  worthy  of  remark,  that  by 
this  time  Leuchtfenring,  whom  we  have  feen  fo  zealous 
an  Illuminatus,  after  having  been  as  zealous  a  Protef- 
tant,  tutor  of  Princes,  Hofrath  and  Hofmeifter,  was 
now  a  fecretary  or  clerk  in  one  of  the  Bufeaus  of  the 
National  Aflerably  of  France. 

I  may  add  as  a  finifliing  touch,  that  the  National  Af- 
fcmbly  of  France  was  the  only  body  of  men  that  I  have 
ever  heard  of  who  openly  and  fyftematically  propofed 
to  employ  aflaflination,  and  to  inftitute  a  band  of  patri- 
ots, who  fliould  exercife  this  profeftion  either  by  fword, 
piftol,  or  poifon ; — and  though  the  propofal  was  not 
completed,  it  might  be  confidered  as  the  fentiments  of 
the  meeting ;  for  it  was  only  delayed  till  it  fliould  be 
confidered  how  far  it  might  not  be  imprudent,  becaufe 
they  might  expcft  reprifals.  The  Abbe  Dubois  enga* 
ged  to  poifon  the  Comte  d'Artois ;  but  was  himfelf  rob- 
bed and  poiibned   by  his  accomplices.— There  were 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.        31^ 

fbi'-ong  reafons  for  thinking  that  the  Emperor  of  Germa-, 
ny  v/as  poifoned— and  that  Mirabeau   was  thus  tricked 
by  his  pupil  Orleans,  alfo  Madame  de  Favras  and  her 
foil. — This  was  copying  the  lUuminati  very  carefully. 

After  all  thefe  particulars,  can  any  perfon  have  a 
doubt  that  the  Order  of  Illuniinati  formally  interfered  in 
the  French  Revolution,  and  contributed  greatly  to  its 
progrefs  ?  There  is  no  denying  the  infolence  and  oppref- 
fion  of  the  Crown  and  the  Nobles,  nor  the  mifery  and 
{lavery  of  the  people,  nor  that  there  were  fufficient  pro- 
vocation and  caufe  for  a  total  change  of  meafures  and  of 
principles.  But  the  rapidity  with  which  one  opinion 
was  declared  in  every  corner,  and  that  opinion  as  quickly 
changed,  and  the  change  announced  every  where,  and 
the  perfeft  conformity  of  the  principles,  and  famenels 
of  the  language,  even  in  arbitrary  trifles,  can  hardly  be 
explained  in  any  other  way.  It  may  indeed  be  faid, 
"  que  les  beaux  genies  fe  rcncontrent — that  wits  jump. 
The  principles  are  the  fame,  and  the  conduft  of  the 
French  has  been  fuch  as  the  Illuminati  would  have  exhi- 
bited ;  but  this  is  all — the  Illuminati  no  loilger  exifted." 
Enough  has  been  faid  on  this  laft  point  already. — The 
fafts  are  as  have  been  narrated.  The  Illuminati  conti- 
nued as  an  Order,  and  even  held  affemblies,  though 
not  fo  frequently  nor  fo  formally  as  before,  and  though 
their  Areopagus  was  no  longer  at  Munich.  But  let  us 
hear  what  the  French  them felves  thought  of  the  matter. 


•&' 


In  1789,  or  the  beirinning  of  1790,  a  raanifefi  was 
fent  from  the  Grand  National  Lodge  of  Free  Ma- 
fons  (fo  it  is  entitled)  at  Paris,  figned  by  the  Duke  of  Or- 
leans as  Grand  Majhr,  addrefjed  and  fent  to  ihe  Lodges 
in  all  the  refpeBable  cities  of  Europe,  exhorting  them  to 
%mtefor  thefupport  of  the  French  Revolution^  to  gain  U 


Si6        THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

Jriendst  defenders^  and  dependents  j  and  according  to 
their  opportmiities^  and  the  praBicahility  of  the  things  to 
kindle  and  propagate  the  fpirit  of  revolution  through  all 
lands.  This  is  a  mod  important  article,  and  deferves  a 
very  ferious  attention.  I  got  it  firft  of  all  in  a  work  cal- 
led, Hochfle.wichtige  Erinnerungen  zur  rechten  Zeituher 
einige  der  allerernflhaftefen  Angslegenheiten  diefes  Zcit^ 
alters,  von  L.  A.  Hoffmann,  Vienna,  1795. 

The  author  of  this  work  fays,  '•  That  every  thing  h« 
advances  in  thefe   memorandums  is.  confiftent  with  his 
own   perfonal   knowledge,  and  that  he  is  ready  to  give 
convincing  proofs  of  them  to  any  refpedable  perfon  who 
will  apply  to   him   perfonally.     He   has   already  given 
fuch  convincing  documents  to  the  Emperor,  and  to  fe- 
veral  Princes,  that  many  of  the  machinations  occafion- 
ed  by  this  manifeflo  have  been   detected  and  flopped; 
and  he  would  have  no  fcruple  at  laying  the  whole  before 
the  public,  did  it  not  unavoidably  involve  feveral  worthy 
perfons  who  had  fulfered  themfelves  to  be  milled,  and 
heartily  repented  of  their  errors."     He  is  naturally  (be- 
ing a   Cathoiic)  very   feyere  on  the  Proteftants  (and  in- 
deed he  has  much  reafon)  and  by  this  has  drawn  on  him- 
felf  many  bitter  retorts.     He  has  however  defended  him- 
felf  againft  all  that  are  of  any   confequence  to  his  good 
name  and  veracity,  in  a  manner  that  fully  convinces  any 
impartial  reader,  and  turns  to  the  confufion  of  the  flan- 
derers. 

Hoffmann  fays,  that  "  he  faw  feme  of  thofe  manifcfls ; 
that  they  were  not  all  of  one  tenor,  fome  being  addref - 
fed  to  friends,  of  whofe  fupport  they  were  already  affur- 
ed."  One  very  important  article  of  their  contents  is 
£arnefl  exhortations  to  eflablifli  in  every  quarter  fecret 
fchools  of  political  education,  and  fcliools  for  the  public 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         317 

tdiication  of  the  children  of  the  people^  under  the  direction 
of  well-principled  mafers  ;  and  offers  of  pecuniary  affif 
tancefor  this  purpofe^  and  for  the  encouragernent  of  wri- 
ters in  favor  of  the  Revolution,  and  for  indemnifying  the 
patriotic  bookfelUn  who  fiffer  by  their  endeavours  to  fup- 
prefs  publications  which  have  an  oppofite  tendency.     We 
know  very  well  that  the  imrnenfe    revenue  of  the  Diike 
of  Orleans  was  fcattered  among  all  the  rabble  of  the  Pa- 
lais Royal.     Can  we  doubt  of  its  being  ernployed  in  this 
manner  ?  Our  doubts  muft  vanifli,  when  we   fee  that 
not  long  after  this  it  was  publicly  faid  in   the   National 
Aflembly  "  that  this  method  was  the  moft  effectual  for 
accomplilliing   their   purpofe  of  fetting   Europe   in   a 
flame."     '•  But  much  expence,"  fays  the  fpeaker,  "  will 
attend  it,  and  much  has  already  been  employed,  which 
cannot  be  named,  becaufe  it  is  given   in  fecret."     The 
Affembly  had  given  the  Illumination  war-hoop — "  Peace 
xvith  cottages,  but  war  with  palaces.'' — A  pouvoir  revolu' 
tionnaire   is  mentioned,    which    fuperfedes  all    narrow 
thoughts,  all  ties  of  morality.      Lequinio  publilhes  the 
moil   deteftable   book   that  ever  iffued  from  a  printini; 
prefs,  Les   Prejiiges  vamcus,  containing  all   the  princi- 
ples, and  expreffed  in  the  very  words  of  lUuminatifm. 

Hoffmann  fays,  that  the  French  Propaganda  had  many 
■emiffaries  in  Vienna,  and  many  Friends  whom  he  could 
point  out.  Mirabeau  in  particular  had  many  connection  j 
in  Vienna,  and  to  the  certain  knowledge  of  iJoftmann, 
carried  on  a  great  correfpondence  in  cyphers.  The 
progrefs  of  Illumination  had  been  very  great  in  the  Auf- 
ftrian  States,  and  a  ftatefman  gave  him  accounts  of  their 
proceedings  (qui  font  redrefjer  les  cheveux)  which  make 
one's  hair  fland  on  end.  ''  I  no  longer  wonder,"  fays 
he,  "  that  the  Ncuefe  Arbutung  des  Spartacus  und  Philo 
was  forbidden.     O    ye  almighty    lUaniinatiy  what    can 


3i8         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

you  not  accomplifli  by  your  ferpent-like  infinuation  and 
cunning  !"  Your  leaders  fay,  "  This  book  is  danger- 
ous, becaufe  it  will  teach  wicked  men  the  moft  refined 
methods  of  rebellion,  and  it  muft  never  get  into  the 
hands  of  the  common  people.  They  have  faid  fo  with 
the  moil  impudent  face  to  fome  Princes,  who  did  not 
perceive  the  deeper-laid  reafon  for  fuppreffmg  the  book. 
The  leaders  of  the  Illuminati  are,  not  without  reafon,  in 
anxiety,  left  the  inferior  claffes  of  their  own  Society 
fliould  make  jull  reprifals  for  having  been  fo  bafely 
tricked,  by  keeping  them  back,  and  in  profound  igno- 
rance of  their  real  defigns ;  and  for  working  on  them, 
by  the  very  goodnefs  of  their  hearts,  to  their  final  ruiii  3 
and  left  the  Free  Mafons,  whom  they  have  alfo  abufed, 
fhould  think  of  revendngr  themfelves,  when  the  matchlefs 
villany  of  their  deceivers  has  been  fo  clearly  expofed. 
It  is  in  vain  for  them  to  talk  of  the  danger  of  inftrufting 
the  people  in  the  methods  of  fomenting  rebellion  by  this 
book.  The  aims  are  too  apparent,  and  even  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Regenfburg,  where  the  ftrength  of  the 
Jlluminati  lay,  every  perfon  faid  aloud,  that  the  Illumi- 
natifm  difcovered  by  this  book  was  High  Treafon,  and 
the  moft  unheard-of  attempt  to  annihilate  every  religion 
and  every  civil  government."  He  goes  on  :  "  In  1790 
I  was  as  well  acquainted  with  the  fpirit  of  the  Illuraina- 
tion-fyftem  as  at  prefent,  but  only  not  [o  documented  by 
their  conftitutional  afts,  as  it  is  now  by  the  Neiijle  Ar- 
beitung  des  Spartacus  und  Philo.  My  mafonic  connec- 
tions were  formerly  extenfive,  and  my  publication  enti- 
tled Eighteen  Paragraphs  concerning  Free  Mafonry, 
procured  me  more  acquaintance  with  Free  Mafons  of 
the  greateft  worth,  and  of  Illuminati  equally  upright, 
perfons  of  refpedability  and  knowledge,  who  had  difco- 
vered and  repented  the  trick  and  inveigling  cqndu6l  of 
the  Order.     All  of  us  jointly  fwore  oppofition  to  the  //- 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.  319, 

hcminati,  and  my  friends  confidered  me  as  af^proper  in- 
ilrument  for  this  purpofe.  To  whet  my  zeal,  they  put 
papers  into  my  hands  which  made  me  fliudder,  and  raif- 
ed  my  diflike  to  the  higheft  pitch.  I  received  from  them 
lirts  of  the  members,  and  among  them  faw  names  which 
I  lamented  exceedingly.  Thus  ftood  matters  in  1 790, 
when  the  French  Revolution  began  to  take  a  ferious 
turn.  The  intelligent  faw  in  the  open  fyftem  of  the  Ja- 
cobins the  complete  hidden  fyftem  of  the  Illurninati. 
We  knew  that  this  fyftem  included  the  whole  world  in 
its  aims,  and  France  was  only  the  place  of  its  firft  explo- 
lion.  The  Propaganda  works  in  every  corner  to  this 
hour,  and  its  emiifaries^run  about  in  all  the  four  quarters 
of  the  world,  and  are  to  be  found  in  numben;,in  every 
city  that  is  a  feat  of  government." 

"  He  farther  relates  how  they  in  Vienna  wanted  to 
enlift  him,  and,  as  this  failed,  how  they  have  abufed  him 
even  in  the  foreign  newfpapers. 

"  I  have  perfonal  knowledge  (continues  he)  that  in 
Germany  a  fecond  Mirabeau,  Mauvillon,  had  propofed 
in  detail  a  plan  of  revolution,  entirely  and  precifely  fuit- 
ed  to  the  prefent  ftate  of  Germany.  This  he  circulated 
among  feveral  Free  Mafon  Lodges,  amon^  all  the  Illu- 
minated  Lodges  which  ftill  remained  in  Germany,  and 
through  the  hands  of  all  the  emiifaries  of  the  Propagan- 
da, who  had  been  already  difpatched  to  the  frontiers 
(vorpojlen)  of  every  diftriB:  of  the  empire,  v/ith  means 
for  ftirring  up  the  people."  (N.  B.  in  1792  Mauvillon, 
finding  abundant  fupport  and  encouragement  in  the  ap- 
pearance of  things  round  him,  when  the  French  arms 
had  penetrated  every  where,  and  their  invitations  to  re- 
volt had  met  with  fo  hearty  a  reception  from  the  difcon- 
tented  in  every  ftate,  came  boldly   forward,  and,  in  the 


320.        THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

Brunfwick  journal  for  March  1792,  declared  that  "he 
heartily  rejoiced  in  the  French  Revolution,  wifhed  it  all 
fuccefs,  and  thought  himfelf  liable  to  no  reproach  when> 
he  declared  his  hopes  that  a  fimilar  revolution  would 
fpeedily  take  place  in  Germany."} 

In  the  Hamburgh  Political  Journal,  Augufl,  Sep- 
tember, and  Oftober  1790,  there  are  many  proofs  of 
the  machinations  of  emiOaries  from  the  Mafcn  Lodges  of 
Paris  among  the  German  Free  Mafons — See  pages  836, 
963,  1087,  &c.  It  appears  that  a  club  has  taken  the 
name  of  Propaganda,  and  meets  once  a-week  at  leaft, 
in  the  form  of  a  Mafon  Lodge.  It  confifts  of  perfons 
of  all  \V(  t  ns,  and  is  under  the  direction  of  the  Grand 
Mafter,  ttie  Duke  of  Orl-eans.  De  Leutre  is  one  of  the 
Wardens.  They  have  divided  Europe  into  colonies,  to 
which  they  give  revolutionary  names,  fuch  as  the  Cap, 
the  Pike,  the  Lantern,  &:c.  They  have  minifters  in- 
thefe  colonies.  (One  is  pointed  out  in  Saxony,  by 
marks  which  I  preiume  are  well  underftood.)  A  fecret 
prefs  was  found  in  Saxe  Gotha,  furnifhed  with  German 
types,  which  printed  a  feditious  work  called  the  Jour-' 
nal  of  HuTiianity.  This  journal  was  found  in  the  morn- 
ingr,  lying  in  the  ftreets  and  highways.  The  houfe  be- 
longed to  an  Illuminatus  of  the  name  of  Duport,  a  pooi' 
fchoolmader — he  w^as  aflociated  with  another  in  Straf- 
burg,  who  was  alfo  an  Illuminatus. — His  name  was 
Meyer,  the  writer  of  the  Strafburg  Newfpaper.  He^ 
had  been  fome  time  a  teacher  in  Salzmann's  academy, 
who  we  fee  was  alfo  an  Illmninatus,  but  difpleafed  with 
their  proceedings  almod  at  the  nrft.  (Private  Corref- 
pondence.) 

"  I   have   perfonal   knowledge   (continues   Profefibr 
Hoffmann)  that  in  179I;  during  the  temporary  dearth  at 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         321 

Vienna,  feveral  of  thefe  emiffaries  were  bufy  in  corrupt- 
ing the  minds  of  the  poor,  by  telling  them  that  in  like 
manner  the  court  had  produced  a  famine  in  Pans  in  1789. 
I  detefted  forae  of  them,  and  expofed  them  in  my  Pa- 
triotic Remarks  on  the  prefent  Dearth,  and  had  the  fa- 
tisfaftion  of  feeing  my  endeavours  of  confiderable  effect." 

Surely  thefe  fa8;s  fhow  that  the  Anarchifts  of  France 
knew  of  the  German  Illuminati,  and  confided  in  tlieir 
fupport.  They  alfo  knew  to  what  particular  Lodges 
they  could  addrefs  themfelves  with  fafety  and  confix 
dence. — But  what  need  is  there  of  more  argument,  when 
we  know  the  zeal  of  the  Illuminati,  and  the  unhoped  for 
opportunity  that  the  Revolution  had  given  them  of  aft- 
iiig  with  immediate  effetl  in  carrying  on  their  great  and 
darling  work  ?  Can  we  doubt  that  they  would  eagerly 
put  their  hand  to  the  plough  ?  And,  to  complete  the 
proof,  do  we  not  know  from  the  lifts  found  in  the  fecret 
correfpondence  of  the  Order,  that  they  already  had 
Lodges  in  France,  and  that  in  1790  and  1791,  many 
Illuminated  Lodges  in  Germany,  viz.  at  Mentz,  Worms,' 
Spire,  Frankfort,  aftually  interfered,  and  produced 
great  effe6ls.  In  Switzerland  too  they  were  no  lefs  ac- 
tive. They  had  Lodges  at  Geneva  and  at  Bern.  At 
Bern  two  jacobins  were  fentenced  to  feveral  years  im* 
prifonment,  and  among  their  papers  were  found  their 
patents  of  Illumination.  I  alfo  fee  the  fate  of  Geneva 
afcribcd  to  the  operations  of  Illuminati  refiding  there  by 
feveral  writers — particularly  by  Girtanner,  and  by  the 
Gottingen  editor  of  the  Revolution  Almanac. 


'O" 


I  conclude   this  article  with  an  extraft  or  two  from 
the  proceedings  of  the  National  AiTembly  and  Conven- 

^  r 


322!         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION^, 

tion,  which  make  it  evident  that  their  principles  and  their 
practice  are  precifely  thofe  of  the  llluminatij  on  a  great 
fcale. 

When  the  afiumption  of  the  Duchy  of  Savoy  as  an 
84th  Department  was  debated,  Danton  faid  to  the  Con- 
vention, 

"  In  the  moment  that  we  fend  freedom  to  a  nation 
on  our  frontier,  we  mud  fay  to  them,  You  muil  have  no 
more  Kings — for  if  we  are  furrounded  by  tyrants,  their 
coalition  puts  our  own  freedom  in  danger. — When  the 
French  nation  fent  us  hither,  it  created  a  great  commit- 
tee for  the  general  infurretlion  of  the  people." 

On  the  19th  of  November  1792,  it  was  decreed, 
*'  That  the  Convention,  in  the  name  of  the  French  na- 
tion, tenders  help  and  fraternity  to  all  people  who  would 
recover  their  liberty," 

On  the  21ft  of  November,  the  Prefident  of  the  Con- 
vention faid  to  the  pretended  deputies  of  the  Duchy  of 
Savoy,  "  Reprefentatives  of  an  independent  people, 
important  to  mankind  was  the  day  when  the  National 
Convention  of  France  pronounced  its  fentence.  Royal 
dignity  is  aholiflied. — From  that  day  many  nations  will 
in  future  reckon  the  era  of  their  political  exiftence. — 
From  the  beginning  of  civil  ellablifliments  Kings  have 
been  in  oppofuion  to  their  nations — but  now  they  rife 
up  to  annihilate  Kings. — Rcafon,  when  fhe  darts  her 
rays  into  every  corner,  lays  open  eternal  truths — She 
alone  enables  us  to  pafs  fentence  on  defpots,  hitherto 
the  fcare-crow  of  other  nations." 

But  the  mod  diftin6l  exhibition  of  principle  is  to  be 
fcen  in  a  report  from  the  diplomatic   comuiittcc;  who 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         323 

were  commifTioncd  to  deliberate  on  the  condu6l  which 
France  was  to  hold  with  other  nations.  On  this  report 
was  founded  the  decree  of  the  15th  of  December  1793. 
The  Reporter  addreffes  the  Convention  as  follows. 

"  The  Committees  of  Finance  and  War  afk  in  the  be- 
ginning, What  is  the  objeft  of  the  war  which  we  have 
taken  in  hand  ?    Without  all  doubt  the  obj eel  is   the 

ANNIHILATION  OF  A  L  L  P  R  1  V  I  L  E  G  E  S,  WAR  WITH 
THE    PALACES,     PEACE    WITH   THE    CoTTAGES.    Thcfc 

are  the  principles  on  which  your  declaration  of  -war  is 
founded.  All  tyranny,  all  privilege,  muft  be  treated  as 
an  enemy  in  the  countries  where  we  fet  our  foot.  This 
is  the  genuine  refult  of  our  principles. — But  it  is  not 
with  Kings  alone  that  we  are  to  wage  war — were  thefe 
our  fole  enemies,  we  fhould  only  have  to  bring  down 
ten  or  twelve  heads.  We  have  to  fight  with  all  their  ac- 
complices, with  the  privileged  orders,  who  devour  and 
Jiave  opprelTed  the  people  during  many  centuries. 

We  mud  therefore  declare  ourfelves  for  a  revolution- 
ary power  in  all  the  countries  into  which  we  enter  (loud 
applaufes  from  the  Affembly) — Nor  need  we  put  on  the 
cloak  of  humanity — we  difdain  fuch  little  arts. — We 
muft  clothe  ourfelves  with  all  the  brilliancy  of  reafon, 
and  all  the  force  of  the  nation.  W-e  need  not  raaflv  our 
principles — the  defpots  know  ttiem  already.  The  firil 
thing  we  muft  do  is  to  ring  the  alarum  bell,  for  infurrec- 
tion  and  uproar. — We  muft,  in  a  folemn  manner,  let 
the  people  fee  the  baniihment  of  their  tyrants  and  privi- 
leged cafts — othcrwife,  the  people,  accuftomed  to  their 
fetters,  will  not  be  able  to  break  their  bonds. — It  will 
effect  nothing,  merely  to  excite  a  rifing  of  the  people — 
this  would  only  be  giving  them  words  inftead  of  Handing 
%y  ihera^ 


3^4         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

"  And  fince,  in  this  manner,  we  ourfelves  are  the  Re- 
volutionary Aminiftration,  all  that  is  againfl  the  rights  of 
the  people  mufl;  be  overthrown,  at  our  entry — We  mull 
difplay  our  principles  by  adually  deftroying  all  tyranny; 
and  our  generals,  after  having  chafed  away  the  tyrants 
and  their  fatellites,  mud  proclaim  to  the  people  that 
they  have  brought  them  happinefs  ;  and  then,  on  the 
fpot,  they  muft  fupprefs  tithes,  feudal  rights,  and  every 
ipecies  of  fervitude." 

"  But  we  fhall  have  done  nothing  if  we  flop  here. 
Ariilocracy  ftill  domineers — we  muft  therefore  fupprefs 
all  authorities  exifting  in  the  hands  of  the  upper  claffes. 
— When  the  Revolutionary  Authority  appears,  there 
iKuft  nothing  of  the  old  eftablifhment  remain. — A  po- 
pular fyftem  muft  be  introduced — every  office  muft  be 
occupied  by  new  funftionaries — and  the  Sanfculottes 
muft  every  where  have  a  fhare  in  the  Adminiftration. 

"  Still  nothing  is  done,  till  we  declare  aloud  the  pre- 
cjjion  of  our  principles  to  fuch  as  want  only  a  half  free- 
dom.— We  muft  fay  to  them — If  you  think  of  compro- 
mifmg  with  the  privileged  cafts,  we  cannot  fuffer  fuch 
dealing  with  tyrants — They  are  our  enemies,  and  we 
muft  treat  them  as  enemies,  becaufe  they  are  neither  for 
Liberty  nor  Equality. — Show  yourfelves  difpofed  to  re- 
ceive a  free  conftitution — and  the  Convention  will  not 
only  ftand  by  you,  but  will  give  you  permanent  fup- 
port  ;  we  will  defend  you  ag-ainft  the  vengeance  of  your 
tyrants,  againft  their  attacks,  and  againft  their  return. — 
Therefore  abolifii  from  among  you  the  Nobles — and 
every  ecclefiaftical  and  military  incorporation.  They 
are  incompatible  with  Equahty.— Henceforward  you 
are  citizens,  ail  equal  in  rights — equally  called  upon  to 
rukj  to  defend^  and  to  ferve  your  country. — The  agents 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         325 

.of  the  French  Republic  will  inftrucl  and  allifl  you  in 
forming  a  free  conftitudon,  and  aflure  you  of  happinefs 
and  fraternity." 

This  Report  was  loudly  applauded,  and  a  decree 
formed  in  precife  conformity  to  its  principles. — Both 
were  ordered  to  be  tranflated  into  all  languages,  and  co- 
pies to  be  furnifhed  to  their  generals,  with  orders  to  have 
them  carefully  difperfed  in  the  countries  which  they  in- 
vaded. 

And,  in  completion  of  thefe  decrees,  their  armies 
found  it  eafy  to  colle8;  as  many  difcoxJteiited  or  worih- 
lefs  perfons  in  any  country  as  fufficed  for  fetting  up  a 
tree  of  liberty.  This  they  held  as  a  fufficient  call  for 
iheir  interference. — Sometimes  they  performed  this  ce- 
jemony  themfeives — a  reprefentation  was  eafily  made 
up  in  the  fame  way — and  then,  under  the  nam(^  of  a  free 
conftitution,  the  nation  was  forced  to  acquicfce  in  a  form 
dictated  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  in  which  they  had 
not  the  fmalleft  liberty  to  choofe — and  they  were  plun- 
dered of  all  they  had,  by  way  of  corapenfating  to  France 
for  the  trouble  fhe  had  taken. — And  this  they  call  Li- 
berty.—  It  needs  no  comment. — 

Thus  I  have  attempted  to  prove  that  the  preient  aw.- 
ful  lituation  of  Europe,  and  the  general  fermentation  of 
the  public  mind  in  all  nations,  have  not  been  altogether 
the  natural  operations  of  difcontent,  oppreiTion,  and  mo- 
ral corruption,  although  thefe  have  been  great,  and  have 
operated  with  fatal  energy  ;  but  that  this  political  fever 
has  been  carefully  and  fylleraatically  heightened  by  bo- 
dies of  men,  who  profelfed  to  be  the  physicians  of  the 
State,  and,  while  their  open  praftice  employed  cooling 
medicines,  and  a  treatment  which  all  approved,  admi^if- 


326         TxHE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

tered  in  fecret  the  moft  innammatory  poifons,  which  they 
made  up  i'o  as  to  flatter  the  difeafed  fancy  of  the  patient. 
Although  this  was  not  a  plan  begun,  carried  on,  and 
completed  by  the  fame  perfons,  it  was  undoubtedly  an 
uniform  and  confident  fcheme,  proceeding  on  the  fame 
unvaried  principle,  and' France  undoubtedly  now  fmarts 
under  all  the  woes  of  German  Illumination. 

I  beg  leave  to  fuggeft  a  few  thoughts,  which  may  ena- 
ble us  to  draw  feme  advantage  from  this  (hocking  mafe 
of  information. 


General  ReJLeBions. 

I.  I  may  obferve,  in  the  firjl  place,  and  I  beg  it  may 
be  particularly  attended  to,  that  in  all  thofe  villainous 
machinations  againfh  the  peace  of  the  world,  the  attack, 
has  been  firfi:  made  on  the  principles  of  Morality  and 
Religion.  The  confpirators  faw  that  till  thefe  are  ex- 
tirpated, they  have  no  chance  of  fuccefs ;  and  their  man< 
ncr  of  proceeding  ihews  that  they  confider  Religion  and 
Morality  as  infeparably  connefted  together.  We  learn 
much  from  this — Fa^  eft  et  ab  ho  jit  doceri. — They  en- 
deavour to  defliroy  our  religious  {entiments,  by  firll  cor- 
rupting our  morals.  They  try  to  inflame  our  paflions, 
that  when  the  demands  from  this  quarter  become  urgent, 
the  reftraints  of  Religion  may  immediately  come  in  fight, 
"and  ftand  in  the  way.  They  arc  careful,  on  this  occa-^ 
fion,  to  give  fuch  a  view  of  thofe  reftraints,  that  the  real 
origin  of  them  does  not  appear. — We  are  made  to  be- 
lieve that  they  have  been  altogether  the  contrivance  of. 
Priefts  anddefpots,  in  order  to  get  the  command  of  us. . 
They    take  care  to  fupport   thefe  alTertions  by   hQ.%. 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         327 

which,  to  our  great  fhame,  and  greater  misfortune,  are 
but  too  numerous. — Having  now  the  paffions  on  their 
fide,  they  find  no  difficuky  in  perfuading  the  voluptuary, 
or  the  difcontented,  that  tyranny  aftually  exerted,  or 
refolved  on  in  future,  is  the  fole  oridn  of  religious  re- 
flraint.  He  feeks  no  further  argument,  and  gives  him- 
felfno  trouble  to  find  any.  Had  he  examined  the  mat- 
ter with  any  care,  he  would  find  himfclf  jufl;  brought 
back  to  thofe  very  feelings  of  moral  excellence  and  mo- 
ral depravity  that  he  wiftes  to  get  rid  of  altogether  ;  and 
thefe  would  tell  him  that  pure  Religion  does  not  lay  a 
fmgle  reftraint  on  us  that  a  noble  nature  would  not  have 
laid  on  itfelf — nor  enjoins  a  fingle  duty  which  an  ingenu- 
ous and  warm  heart  would  not  be  afliamed  to  find  itfelf 
deficient  in.  He  would  then  fee  that  all  the  fanctions 
of  Religion  are  fitted  to  his  high  rank  in  the  fcale  of  ex- 
igence. And  the  more  he  contemplates  his  future  prof- 
pe6ls,  the  more  they  brighten  upon  his  view,  the  more 
attainable  they  appear,  and  the  more  he  is  able  to  know 
what  they  may  probably  be.  Having  attained  this  hap- 
py flate  of  mind  (an  attainment  in  the  power  of  any  kind 
heart  that  is  in  earned  in  the  enquiry)  he  will  think  that 
no  punifliment  is  too  great  for  the  unthankful  and  grove- 
ling foul  which  can  forego  fuch  hopes,  and  rejed  thefe 
noble  proffers,  for  the  comparatively  frivolous  and  aan- 
fitory  gratifications  of  life.  He  is  not  frightened  into 
worthy  and  virtuous  conduft  by  fears  of  fuch  meiirrd 
punilhment  ;  but,  if  not  enticed  into  it  by  his  high  cx- 
peftations,  he  is,  at  leaft,  retained  in  the  paths  of  vir- 
tue by  a  kind  of  manly  fhame. 

But  all  this  is  overlooked,  or  is  kept  out  of  Hghtj  ni 
the  inflruB-ions  of  IllumJnatifra.  In  thefe  the  eye  muit 
be  kept  always  direfted  to  the  Defpot.  Ti:iis  is  the  bu;.^- 
bcarj  and  every  thing  is  made  to  conneSl  wiih  prefoitor 


328         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION'. 

future  tyranny  and  oppreffion — Therefore  Religion  is 
held  out  as  a  combination  of  terrors — the  invention  of 
ihe  date-tools,  the  priefts.  But  it  is  not  eafy  to  ftifle 
the  fuggeftions  of  Nature — therefore  no  pains  are  fpared 
to  keep  them  down,  by  encreafmg  the  uncertainty  and 
doubts  which  arife  in  the  courfe  of ^H  fpeculations  on 
fuch  fubjetls.  Such  difficuhies  occur  in  all  fcientific 
difcuffions. — Here  they  muft  be  numerous  and  embar- 
rafTmg — for  in  this  enquiry  we  come  near  the  firfl  prin- 
ciples of  things,  and  the  firft  principles  of  human  know- 
ledge. The  geometer  does  not  wonder  at  mittakes  even 
Jn  his  fcience,  the  mod  fimple  of  all  others.  Nor  does 
the  mechanic  or  the  chemift  rejeft  all  his  fcience,  becaufe 
he  cannot  attain  clear  conceptions  of  fome  of  the  natur- 
al relations  which  operate  in  the  phenomena  under  hi^ 
confideration.  Nor  do  any  of  thefe  ftudcnts  of  nature 
brand  with  the  name  of  fool,  or  knave,  or  bigot,  another 
perfon   who  has  drawn  a  different  conclufion  from   the 

phenomenon. In  one  point  they  all  agree — they  find 

themfelves  poffeffed  of  faculties  which  enable  them  to 
fpeculate,  and  to  difcover  ;  and  they  find,  that  the  ope- 
ration of  ihofe  faculties  is  quite  unlike  the  things  which 
they  contemplate  by  their  means — and  they  feel  a  Jatis- 

faBion  in  the pojleffion  ofthem^  and  in  this  diftinction.- 

But  this  feems  a  misfortune  to  our  Illuminators.  I  have^ 
long  been  ilruck  with  this.  If  by  deep  meditation  I  have 
folved  a  problem  which  has  bafPied  the  endeavours  of 
others,  1  Oiould  hardly  thank  the  perfon  who  convinced 
me  that  my  fuccefs  was  entirely  owing  to  the  particular 
ftate  of  my  health,  by  which  my  brain  was  kept  free  frora 
many  irritations  to  which  other  perfons-are  expofed. 
Yet  this  is  the  condu£l  of  the  Illuminated — They  arc 
abundantly  felf-conceited ;  and  yet  thtfy  continually  en- 
deavour to  deftroy  all  grounds  of  felf-eilimation. — They 
rejoice  in  every  difcovery  that   is  reported  to  them  iA 


tH£  FRENCH  REVOLUtldM.        3^^ 

Tome  refcmblance,  unnoticed  before,  between  mankind 
and  the  inferior  creation,  and  would  be  happy  to  find 
that  the  refemblance  is  complete.  It  is  very  true,  Mr.' 
Pope's  "  Poor  Indian,  with  untutor'd  mind,"  had  no 
objcBion  to  his  dog's  going  to  heaven  with  him  ; 

*'  And  thinks,  admitted  to  that  equal  fky,  ; 

"  His  faithful  dog  fhall  bear  his  company." 

This  is  not  an  abje8;,  but  it  is  a  modeft  fentiment. 
But  our  high-minded  philofophers,  who,  with  Beatrice 
in  the  play,  "  cannot  brook,  obedience  to  a  wayward 
piece  of  marl,"  if  it  be  in  the  fhape  of  a  Prince,  have 
far  other  notions  of  the  matter.  Indeed  they  are  not  yet 
agreed  about  it.  Mr.  de  la  Metherie  hopes,  that  before 
the  enlightened  Republic  of  France  has  got  into  "its 
leens,  he  fliall  be  able  to  tell  his  fellow-citizens,  in  his 
Journal  de  Phjique,  that  particular  form  of  cryftalliza- 
tion  which  men  have  been  accuftomed  to  call  God. — 
Dr.  Prieftly  again  deduces  all  intelligence  from  elaftic 
undulations,  and  will  probably  think,  that  his  own  great 
difcoveries  have  been  the  quiverings  of  fome  fiery  marfli 
miafma.  While  Pope's  poor  Indian  hopes  to  take  his 
dog  to  heaven  with  him,  thefe  Illuminators  hope  to  die 
like  dogs,  and  that  both  foul  and  body  fhall  be  as  if 
they  never  had  been. 

Is  not  this  a  melancholy  refult  of  all  our  Illumina- 
tion ?  It  is  of  a  piece  with  the  termination  of  the  ideal 
Philofophy,  viz.  profelTed  and  total  ignorance.  Should 
not  this  make  us  ftart  back  and  hefitate,  before  we  pout 
like  wayward  children  at  the  rubs  of  civil  fubordination, 
and  before  we  make  a  facrifice  to  our  ill  humour  of  all 
that  we  value  ourfelves  for  ?  Does  it  not  carry  ridicule 
and  abfurdiiy  in  its  forehea'd  ? — Such  alF-rtibns  of  per- 

S  s 


a^o        THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION 


-i>0 


Tonal  worth  and  dignity  (always  excepting  Princes  and 
priefts)  and  Tuch  abjecl  acknowledgements  of  worthlcfl- 
nefs. — Does  not  this,  ofitfelf,  fhow  that  there  is  fome 
radical  fault  in  the  whole  ?  It  has  all  arifen  from  what 
they  have  called  Illumination^  and  this  turns  out  to  be 
worfe  than  darknefs — But  we  alfo  know  that  it  has  all 
arifen  from  felf-conceited  difcontent,  and  that  it  has 
been  brought  to  its  prefent  (late  by  the  rage  of  fpecula- 
tion.  We  may  venture  to  put  the  queftion  to  any  man's 
confcience. — whether  difcontent  did  not  precede  his 
doubts  about  his  own  nature,  and  whether  he  has  not 
encouraged  the  train  of  argument  that  tended  to  degrade 
him.  "  Thy  wifh  was  father,  Harry,  to  that  thought." 
— ^Should  not  this  make  us  diftruft,  at  lealt,  the  opera- 
tions of  this  faculty  of  our  mind,  and  try  to  moderate 
and  check  this  darling  propenfity  '^  It  feems  a  misfor- 
tune of  the  age — for  w^e  fee  that  it  is  a  natural  fource  of 
difturbance  and  revolution.  But  here  it  will  be  imme- 
diately faid,  "  What,  muft  we  give  over  thinking — be 
no  longer  rational  creatures,  and  believe  every  lie  that 
is  told  us  ?"  By  no  means.  Let  us  be  really  rational 
creatures — and,  taught  by  experience,  let  us,  in  all  our 
fpcculations  on  fubjeBs  which  engage  the  paffions,  guard 
ourfelves  with  the  moft  anxious  care  againft  the  rifk  of 
having  our  judgments  warped  by  ourdefires.  There  is 
no  propenfity  of  our  nature  of  which  the  proper  and  mo- 
deft  indulgence  is  not  beneficial  to  man,  and  which  is 
not  hurtful,  when  this  indulgence  is  carried  too  far. 
And  if  we  candidly  perufe  the  page  of  hiftory,  we  fhall 
be  convinced  that  theabufe  is  great  in  proportion  as  the 
fubjeft  is  important.  What  has  been  fo  ruinoudy  per- 
verted as  the  religious  principle  ?  What  horrid  fuperRi- 
tion  has  it  not  produced  ?  The  Reader  will  not,  I  hope, 
take  it  amifs  that  I  prefurrr:  to  direct  his  attention  to 
foiiie  maxims  which  <ji7ght  to  conduct  a  prudent  man  i:> 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         331 

Iii-s  indulgence  of  a   fpeculative   difpofuion,  and  apply 
them  to  the  cafe  in  hand. 

Whoever  will  for  a  while  call  off  his  attention  from 
the  common  affairs  of  life,  the  Cicrcs  homiiium,  et  rerum 
pondua  inane,  and  will  but  refleft  a  little  on  that  won- 
derful principle  within  him,  which  carries  him  over  the 
whole  univerfe,  and  fhows  him  its  various  relations — 
Whoever  alfo  remarks  what  a  lefs  than  nothing  he  is, 
when  compared  with  this  unmeafureable  fcene — Who- 
ever does  thi.*;,  cannot  but  feel  an  inexpreflible  pleafare 
in  the  contempiation.T— He  muft  rife  in  his  own  eftima- 
tion,  and  be  difpofed  to  cherifli  with  fondnefs  this  prin- 
ciple which  fo  cminendy  raifes  him  above  all  around 
him.  Of  all  the  fourccs  of  human  vanity  this  is  furely 
the  moft  manly,  the  mod  excufable,  and  the  mod  likely 
to  be  extravagantly  indulged. — We  may  be  certain  that 
it  will  be  fo  indulged,  and  that  men  v;ill  frequ<?ntly  fpe~ 
c-ulate  for  the  fake  of  fpeculation  alone,  and  that  they 
will  have  too  much  confidence  in  the  refults  of  this  favc- 
lite  occiipation. — As  there  have  been  ages  of  indolent 
and  abjetl  credulity  and  fuperftition,  it  is  next  to  cer- 
tain that  there  are  alfo  times  of  wild  and  extravagant  fpe- 
culation — -and  when  we  fee  it  becomincr  a  fort  of  j^eneral 
paifion,  we  may  be  certain  that  this  is  a  cafe  in  point. 

This  can  hardly  be  deriied  to  be  the  chara^er  of  the 
prefent  day.  It  is  noi  denied.  On  the  contrary  it  is 
gloried  in,  as  the  prerogative  of  the  18th  century.  All 
riie  fpeculalions  of  antiquity  are  couhdered  as  glimmer- 
mgs  (with  the  exceptions  of  a  few  brighter  {lafhes)  when 
compared  with  our  prefent  meridian  fplendor.  Wc 
fhould  therefore  lilten  with  caution  to  the  inferences 
from  this  boatled  Illumination.  Alfo,  when  we  reflect 
oii  \',\vdi  paf^e.s  in  our  own  mind?,  sj^id  on  what   wc   oD- 


232         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

ferve  in  the  world,  of  the  mighty  innuence   of  our  de- 
fires  and  paffions   on  our  judgments,  we   ftould  care- 
fully notice  whether  any  fuch  warping  of  the  belief  is 
probable  in  the  prefent  cafe.     That  it  is  fo  is  almoft  cer- 
tain— for  the  general  and  immediate  effeft  of  this  Illu- 
mination is   to  leffen  or  remove  many  reftraints  which 
the  fanftions  of  religion  lay   on  the  indulgence  of  very 
flxong  paffions,  and  to  diminifli  our  regard  for  a  certain 
purity  or  correclnefs  of  manners,  which  religion  recom- 
mends, as  the  only  conduft  fuited  to  our  noble  natures, 
and  as  abfolutely  neceflary  for  attaining  that  perfetlion 
and  happinefs  of  which  we  are  capable.-— For  furely  if 
we  take  away  religion,  it  will  be  wifdom  "  to  eat  and  to 
drink,  fince  to-morrow  we  die."     If  moreover,  we  fee 
this  Illumination  extolled  above  all  fcience,  as  friendly 
to  virtue,  as   improving  the  heart,  and  as  producing  a 
juft   morality,  which  will   lead   to   happinefs,  both  for 
curfelves  and  others,  but  perceive  at  the  fame  time  that 
thefe  aflertions  are  made  at  the  expence   of  principles, 
which  our  natural  feelings  force  us   to   venerate   as   fu- 
preme  and  paramount  to  all  others,  we  may  then  be  cer- 
tain that  our  informer  is  trying   to  miflead  and  deceive 
us. — For  all  virtue  and  goodnefs,  both  of  heart  and  con- 
duft;  is  in  perfcQ;   harmony,  and  there  is  no  jarring  or 
inconfiftency.     But  we   mull  pafs  this  fentence  on  the 
doQrines   of  this   Illumination.     Far  it  is  a  m.elancholy 
truth  that  they  have   been  preached  and  recommended, 
for  the  moft  part,  by  clergymen,  parifh-minillers,  who, 
in  the  prefence  of  invoked  Deity,  and  in  the  face  of  the 
world,  have  fet  their  folcmn  fcal  to  a  fylicm  of  doctrines 
diretily    oppofite    to    thofe  recommended  in  their  writ- 
ings;  which  doQrines  they  folemnly  profefs  to  bel]c\e, 
and  folemnly  fwear  to  i^iculcate. — Surely  the  inionr.ati- 
oiis  and  inftrudions  of  fuch  men  iliould   b^^  rejected. — 
\Vhere  fhall  wc  find  their  real   opinioii^  ?    In   their  fo- 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.        333 

leiTin  oaths  ? — or  in  thele  infidel  diflertations  ? — In  ciiher 
cafe,  they  are  deceivers,  whether  mi'iead  by  vanity,  or 
by  the  mean  defire  of  church-emoluments  ;  or  they  are 
prolHtutes,  courting. the  fociety  of  the  weahliy  and  fen- 
i'ual.  Honefty,  likejuftice,  admits  of  no  degrees.  A 
iiian  is  honefl,  or  he  is  a  knave — and  who  would  trull  a 
knave  ?  But  fuch  men  are  unfuitable  inihuCiors  for 
another  reafon — they  are  unwife;  for,  whatever  they 
may  think,  they  are  not  r^fpetted  as  men  of  worth,  but 
are  inwardly  defpifed  as  paralites,  by  the  rich,  who  ad- 
rait  them  into  their  con)pany,  and  treat  them  with  civi- 
lity, for  tlieir  owp  reafons.  We  take  inftruttions  not 
ipercly  from  the  knowing— the  learned- — but  from  the 
wife — not  therefore  from  men  who  give  fuch  evidences 
of  weaknefs. 

Such  would  be  the  condu6l  of  a  prudent  man,  who 
liftcns  to  the  indruBions  of  another  with  the  lerious  in- 
tention of  profiting  by  them.  In  the  prefent  cafe,  he 
£cGs  plain  proofs  of  degraded  felf  eftimation,  of  difho- 
ne'ly,  and  of  mean  motives.  But  the  prudeiu  man  will 
go  further — he  will  remark  that  diifolute  manners,  and 
actions  which  are  inevitably  fubverfive  of  the  peace  and 
order,  nay,  of  the  very  exigence  of  fociety,  are  the  na- 
tural and  ueceCary  confeauences  of  irreliyion.  Should 
any  doubt  of  this  remain  in  his  mind  ;  (hould  he  fome- 
tincs  thiiik  of  an  Epecletus,  or  one  or  two  individuals  of 
antiquity,  who  were  emmently  virtuous,  without  the  in- 
fluence of  religious  fanClions,  he  (hould  recolicct,  that 
the  Stoics  were  animated  by  the  thought,  that  while  the 
wife  man  was  playing  the  game  of  hie,  the  gods  were 
looking  on,  and  pleafcd  u  ith  his  (kill.  Let  him  read  the 
heautiiul  account  given  by  Dr.  Smith,  of  the  rife  of  the 
ijtoic  pliiiofophy,  and  lie  will  fee  that  it  was  an  artificial, 
but  iiublc  auci'ipL  of  a  few  exalted  mind  ,  cnthuii^lts  in 


334         THE  FREKXH  REVOLUTION". 

virtue,  aiming  to  Reel  their  fouls  againft  the  dreadful  but 
tjnavoidable  misfortunes  to  which  they  were  continually 
cxpoled  by  the  daily  recurring  revolutions  in  the  turbu- 
lent democracies  of  ancient  Greece.  There  a  Philofo- 
pher  was  this  day  a  Magiftrate,  and  the  next  day  a  cap- 
tive and  a  flave.  He  would  fee,  that  this  fair  pifture  of 
itiental  happinefs  and  independence  was  fitted  for  the  con- 
templation  of  only  a  few  choice  fpirits,  but  had  no  influ- 
ence on  the  bulk  of  mankind.  He  muft  admire  the  no- 
ble charaders  who  were  animated  by  this  manly  enthufi- 
afm,  and  who  have  really  exhibited  fome  wonderful  pic- 
tures of  virtuous  heroifra  ;  but  he  will  regret,  that  the 
influence  of  thefe  manly,  thefe  natural  principles,  was  not 
more  extenfive.  He  will  fay  to  himfelf,  "  How  will  a 
vhole  nation  aft,  when  religious  fanftions  are  removed, 
and  men  are  aduated  by  reafon  alone  ?" — He  is  not  with- 
out inftrutlion  on  this  important  fubjeO.  France  has 
given  an  awful  leffon  to  furrounding  nations,  by  fliew- 
ing  them  what  is  the  natural  cfiTe^^l  of  ihaking  off  the  re- 
ligious principle,  and  the  veneration  for  that  pure  mora- 
lity which  charafterifcs  Chrillianity.  By  a  decree  of  the 
Convention  (June  6,  1794)  it  is  declared,  that  there  is 
nothing  criminal  in  the  promifcuous  commerce  of  the 
fexes,  and  therefore  nothing  that  derogates  from  the  fe- 
male charafcler,  when  woman  forgets  that  fiie  is  the  de- 
pofitary  of  all  domeftic  (atisfaciion — that  her  honor  is  the 
facred  bond  of  focial  life — that  on  her  modefty  and  de- 
licacy depend  all  the  refpett  and  confidence  that  will 
make  a  man  attach  himfelf  to  her  fociety,  free  her  from 
labour,  fliare  with  her  the  fruits  of  all  his  own  exertions, 
and  work  witli  willingncfs  and  delight,  that  Hie  may  ap- 
pear on  all  occahons  his  equal,  and  the  ornament  of  aii 
his  acquifitions.  In  the  very  argument  which  this  fe- 
IcL'ted  body  of  fenators  lias  given  for  the  propritiy  of  thi§ 
decree,  it  has  deoraded   ivoi»ah  below   all  Ci^imi^ium, 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         335 

"  It  is  to  prevent  her  from  murdering  the  fruit  of  un- 
lawful love,  by  removing  her  fname,  and  by  relieving 
her  from  the  fear  of  Vv'^ant."  The  lenators  fay,  "  the  Re- 
public wants  citizens,  and  therefore  muft  not  only  re- 
move this  temptation  of  fhame,  but  muft  take  care  of  the 
mother  while  fhe  nurfes  the  child.  It  is  the  property  of 
the  nation,,  and  muft  not  be  loft."  The  woman  all  the 
while  is  confidered  only  as  the  flie  animal,  the  bfeeder  of 
Sanfculottes.  This  is  the  jti/I  morality  of  Illumination. 
It  is  really  amunng  (for  things  revolting  to  nature  now 
amufe)  to  obferve  with  v.'hat  fidelity  the  principles  of  the 
Illuminati  have  exprefied  the  fentiments  which  take 
polfeifion  of  a  people  who  have  fhaken  off  the  fanFtions 
of  religion  and  morality.  The  following  is  part  of  the: 
addrefs  to  Pfycharion  and  the  company  mentioned  in 
page  202  :  "  Once  more,  Pfycharion,  I  indulge  you 
with  a  look  behind  you  to  the  flowry  days  of  childhood. 
Now  look  forward,  young  uwman  !  the  holy  circle  of  the 

marriageable   (mannhartn)  welcome  you. Young 

men,  honor  the  young  woman,  the  future  breeder  (gsha- 
creriii)  /"  Then,  to  all. — "  Rejoice  in  the  dawn  of  Il- 
lumination and  Freedom.  Nature  at  laft  enjoys  her  fa- 
cred  never-fading  rights.  Long  was  her  voice  kept 
down  by  civil  fubordination  ;  but  the  days  of  your  ma- 
jority now  draw  nigh,  and  you  will  no  longer,  under  (!ie 
authority  of  guardians,  account  it  a  reproach  to  couf-dcf 
with  enlightened  eyes  the  fecret  workfhops  of  Nature, 
and  to  enjoy  your  work  and  duty."  Minos  thought  ihi.s 
very  hne,  but  it  raifed  a  terrible  difturbance,  and  broke 
up  the  aiTembly.  Such  are  the  eifech  of  this  boafted  en- 
lightening of  the  human  raind  with  refpefl  to  religion  and 
morality.  Let  us  next  confider  what  is  the  refuU  of  toe 
mighty  informauons  which  wchavegoLin  rerp':6l  of  our 
focial  or  political  connecli^ns. 


o:Yo-        THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

II,   Wc  have  learned  the  fum-totai  of  this  political  lU 
lamination,  and  fee  that,  if  true,  it  is  melancholy,   de- 
ilrucliv^e  of  our  prefent  comforts,  numerous  as  they  are, 
and  affords  no  profpe8.  of  redrefs    from  w"hich  we  can 
profit,  but,  on  the  contrary,  plunges  mankind  into  con- 
iclt,  mutual   injury,  and  univerfal   mifcry,  and  all  this 
for  the  chance  only  of  prevailing  in  the  conteft,  and  giv- 
in.^  our  poilerity  a  c/z(?7?ce  of  going  on  in   peace,  if  no 
change  fliall  be  produced,  as  in  former  times,  by  the  ef- 
forts of  ambitious  men.     Bat  the  Illumination  appears 
to  be  partial,  nay  falfe.     What  is  it  ?  It  holds  out  to  the 
rriiice  noi-hing  but  the  refignation  of  all  his  polfcffions, 
rights,  and  claims,  fanclipned  by  the  quiet  poiTefTion  of 
ages,  and  bv   all  the  feelings  of  the  human  heart  which 
give  any  notion  of  right  to  his  lowed  fubje^t.     All  thefe 
poiTefiions  and  claims  are  difcovered  to  have  arifcn  from 
ufurpations,  and  are  therefore  tyranny.     It  has  been  dif- 
covered, that  all  fubordinate  fubjc61ions  were  enforced, 
therefore  their  continuance  i^Jlavery.     But  both  of  thefe 
iiiftorical  affertions  are  in  a   great  degree  falfe,  and  the 
infercnt,»:s  from  them  arc  unreafonable.     The  world  has 
gone  on  as  we  fee  it  go  on  at  prefent.     Moll  principali- 
ties or  fovereignties  have  arifen  as   we  fee   perfonal  au- 
thorities and  influence  arife  every  day  among  ourfelves. 
Buhnefs    for   the  whole  mud  be   done.     Moll  men  are 
fufficiently  occupied  by    their  private  affairs,  and  they 
are  indolent  even  in  thefe — they  are  contented  when  ano- 
ther docs   the   thing  for  them.     There  is  not  a  little  vil- 
lage, nor  a  focicty  of  men,  where  this  is  not  feen  every 
day.     Some  men  have  an  enjoyment  in  this  kind  of  vi- 
carious employment.    All  men  like  influence  and  power^ 
and  iluis  are  compenfated  for   their  trouble.     Thus  ma- 
ny petty  managers  of  public  affairs  arife  in  every  coun- 
try.    The   mutual  ?inimofuies  of  individuals,  and  f;iU 
more,  the  animbfities  of  tribes,  clansj  and  different  af- 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION'.         337 

fociatlons,  give  rife  to  another  kind  of  fuperiors — to 
leaders,  who  direft  the  ftruggles  of  the  reft,  whether  for 
offence  or  defence.  The  defcendants  of  Ifrael  faid,  "they 
wanted  a  man  to  go  out  before  the  people,  like  other 
nations."  As  the  fmall  bulinefs  of  a  few  individuals 
requires  a  manager  or  a  leader,  fo  do  fome  more  general 
affairs  of  thefe  petty  fuperiors,  and  many  of  thefe  alfo 
are  indolent  enough  to  wifh  this  trouble  taken  off  their 
hands  ;  and  thus  another  rank  of  fuperiors  arifes,  and  a 
third,  and  fo  on,  till  a  great  State  may  be  formed  ;  and 
in  this  gradation  each  clafs  is  a  competent  judge  of  the 
condu6l  of  that  clafs  only  which  is  immediately  above  it. 
All  this  may  arife,  and  has  often  arifen,  from  voluntary 
conceffion  alone.  This  conceffion  may  proceed  from 
various  caufes-^from  confidence  in  fuperior  talent's — 
from  confidence  in  great  worth— moft  generally  from  the 
refpeft  or  deference  which  all  men  feel  for  great  poffef- 
iions.  This  is  frequently  founded  in  felf-intereft  and  ex- 
peBations  of  advantage  ;  but  it  is  natural  to  man,  and 
perhaps  fprings  from  our  inftinclive  fympathy  with  the 
fatisfaftions  of  others — we  are  unwilling  to  difturb  them, 
and  even  wifh  io  promote  them. 

But  this  fubordination  may  arife,  and  has  often  ari- 
fen, from  other  caufes — from  the  iove  of  power  and  ia.- 
fluence,  which  makes  fome  men  eager  to  lead  others,  or 
even  to  manage  their  concerns.  We  fee  this  every  day, 
and  it  may  be  perfectly  innocent.  It  often  arifes  from 
the  defir«  of  gain  of  one  kind  or  another.  Even  this 
may  frequendy  be  indulged  with  perfeft  innocence,  and 
even  with  general  advantage.  Frequently,  however, 
this  fubordination  is  produced  by  the  love  of  power  cm: 
of  gain  puflied  to  an  immoderate  degree  of  ambition, 
and  rendered  unjuft.     Now  there   arife  opp re IHon,   ty-> 

T  t 


338         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION:. 

ranny,  fufFerings,  and  flavery.  Now  appears  an  oppo- 
iition  between  the  rights  or  claims  of  the  r  uler  and  of 
the  people.  Now  the  rulers  come  to  confider  them- 
felves  as  a  different  clafs,  and  their  tranfa6tions  are  now 
only  with  each  other. — Prince  becomes  the  rival  or  the 
enemy  of  Prince  ;  and  in  their  contefts  one  prevails, 
and  the  dominion  is  enkrged.  This  rivalfhip  may  have 
begun  in  any  rank  of  fuperiors,  everv  between  the  firft 
STAanagers  of  the  affairs  of  the  fmallefl  communities;  and 
it  muft  be  remarked  that  they  only  are  the  immediate 
gainers  or  lofers  in  the  conteft,  while  thofe  below  them 
live  at  eafe,  enjoying  many  advantages  of  the  delegation 
of  their  own  concerns. 

No  human  fociety  has  ever  proceeded  purely  in  ei- 
ther of  thefe  two  ways,  but  there  has  always  been  a  mix- 
ture of  both. — But  this  procefs  is  indifpenfably  necef- 
fary  for  the  formation  of  a  great  nation  and  for  all  the 
confequences  that  refult  only  from  fuch  a  coalition. — 
Therefore  it  is  necefiTary  for  giving  rife  to  all  thofe  com- 
forts, and  luxuries,  and  elegances,  which  are  to  be  found 
only  in  great  and  cultivated  ftates.  It  is  necelTary  for 
producing  fuch  enjoyments  as  we  fee  around  us  in  Eu- 
rope, which  we  prize  fo  highly,  and  for  which  we  are 
making  all  this  ftir  and  difturbance.  I  believe  that  no 
man  who  expefts  to  be  believed  will  flatly  fay  that  hu- 
man nature  and  human  enjoyments  are  not  meliorated  by 
this  cultivation. — It  feems  to  be  the  intention  of  nature, 
and,  notwithftanding  the  follies  and  victs  of  many,  we 
can  have  little  hefitation  in  faying  that  there  are  in  the 
mofl:  cultivated  nations  of  Europe,  and  even  in  the  high- 
eft  ranks  of  thefe  nations,  men  of  great  virtue  and  worth 
and  of  high  accomplifhment — Nor  can  we  deny  that 
fuch  men  are  the  finefi:  fpecimens  of  human  nature. 
Roulfeau  wrote  a   whimiical  pamphlet  in  whick  he  had 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         339 

the  vanity  to  think  that  he  had  proved  that  all  thcfe  fruits 
of  cultivation  were  lofTes  to  humanity  and  to  virtue — 
Yet  Rouffeau  could  not  be  contented  with  the  fociety  of 
the  rude  and  unpoliihed,  although  he  pretended  that  he 
^vas  almofl:  the  fole  worfhipper  of  pure  virtue. — He  fup* 
ported  himfelf,  not  by  afliliing  the  iimple  peafant,  but 
by  writing  mufic  for  the  pampered  rick 

This  is  the  circuraftance  entirely  overloolced,  or  art- 
fully kept  out  of  light,  in  the  boafted  Illumination  of 
thefe  days.  No  attention  is  paid  to  the  important  chan- 
ges which  have  happened  in  national  greatnefs,  in  nati- 
onal connexion,  in  national  improvement — yet  we  ne- 
ver think  of  parting  with  any  of  the  advantages^  real  or 
imaginary,  which  thefe  changes  have  produced — nor  do 
\vc  refled  that  in  order  to  keep  a  great  nation  together — 
to  make  it  aQ  with  equality,  or  with  preponderancv, 
among  other  nations,  the  individual  exertions  rauft  be 
concentrated,  muft  be  direfted — and  that  this  requires  a 
ruler  veiled  with  fupreme  power,  and  inter ejled  by  fomt 
great  and  endearing  motive^  fuch  as  hereditary  polTelfio^ 
of  this  power  and  influence,  to  maintain  and  defend  this 
coalition  of  men. — All  this  is  overlooked,  and  we  at- 
tend only  to  the  fubordination  which  is  indifpenfably 
necelfary.  Its  grievances  are  immediately  felt,  and 
they  are  heightened  ten  fold  by  a  delicacy  or  fenfibility 
which  fprings  from  the  great  improvements  in  the  accom- 
modations and  enjoyments  of  life,  which  the  gradual 
ufurpation  and  fublequent  fubordination  have  produced 
and  continue  to  fupport.  But  we  are  determined  to 
have  the  elegance  and  grandeur  of  a  palace  without  the 
prince.— We  will  not  give  up  any  of  our  luxuries  and 
refinements,  yet  will  not  fupport  thofe  high  ranks  and 
thofe  nice  minds. which  produced  them,  and  which  muft 
.continue  to  keep  them  from  degenerating  into  barbarouti 


340        THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

fimplicity  and  coarfe  fenfuality. — We  would  keep  the 
•philofophers,  the  poets,  the  artifts,  but  not  the  Mcece- 
nafes. — It  is  very  true  that  in  fuch  a  ftate  there  would 
be  no  Conjuration  des  Philofophes  ;  for  in  fuch  a  ftate 
this  vermin  of  philofophes  and  fcribblers  would  not  have 
■exifted. — In  fliort,  we  would  have  what  is  impoffible. 

I  have  no  hefitation  in  faying,  that  the  Britifh  Con- 
-flitution  is  the  form  of  government  for  a  great  and  re- 
.fined  nation,  in  which  the  ruling  fentiments  and  propen- 
fities  of  human  nature  feem  moft  happily  blended  and 
balanced.  There  is  no  occafion  to  vaunt  it  as  the  an- 
cient rights  gf  Britons,  the  wifdom  of  ages.  Sec.  It 
has  attained  its  prefent  pitch  of  perfeftion  by  degrees, 
and  this  not  by  the  efforts  of  wifdom,  but  by  the  ftrug- 
-gles  of  vice  and  folly,  working  on  a  rich  fund  of  good 
.nature,  and  of  manly  fpirit,  that  are  confpicuous  in  the 
Britifh  charaBer.  I  do  not  hefitateto  fay  that  this  is  the 
cnly  form  of  government  which  will  admit  and  giv^e  full 
exercife  to  all  the  refpeftable  propenfities  of  our  nature, 
with  the  lead  chance  of  difturbance,  and  the  greateft 
probability  of  man's  arriving  at  the  higheft  pitch  of  ifiv- 
-provement  in  every  thing  that  raifes  him  above  the  beafts 
of  the  field.  Yet  there  is  no  part  of  it  that  may  not, 
that  is  not,  abufed,  by  pulhing  it  to  an  improper  length, 
and  the  fame  watchful  care  is  neceffary  for  preferving 
our  ineflimable  bleflings  that  was  employed  in  acquiring 
them. — This  is  to  be  done,  not  flying  at  once  to  an  ab- 
ilraB  theory  of  the  rights  of  man. — There  is  an  evident 
folly  in  this  procedure.  What  is  this  theory  ?  It  is  the 
belt  general  fl^etch  that  we  can  draw  of  focial  life,  de- 
duced from  our  knowledge  of  human  nature. — And  what 
is  this  knowledge  ?  It  is  a  well  digefted  abflract,  or  Ei- 
ther a  declaration  of  what  we  have  obferved  of  human  ac- 
tions.    What  is  the  ufe  therefore  of  this  intermediate 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.        341 

pi£lure,  this  theory  of  the  rights  of  man  ? — It  has  a  chance 
of  being  unlike  the  original — it  muft  certainly  have  ini- 
perfetlions.— Therefore  it  can  be  of  no  ufe  to  us. — We 
fhould  go  at  once  to  the  original — we  ihould  confider 
how  men  have  aHed — what  havt  been  their  mutual  expec- 
tations— their  fond  propenfities — what  of  thefe  are  incon- 
fiftent  with  each  other — what  are  the  degrees  of  indulge 
"cnce  which  have  bun  admitted  in  them  all  without  diT 
turbance.  I  will  venture  to  fay  that  whoever  docs  this, 
■will  find  himfelf  imperceptibly  fet  down  in  the  Britifh 
parliament  of  King,  Lords,  and  Commons,  all  looking  at 
-each  other  with  fomewhat  of  a  cautious  or  jealous  eye, 
while  the  reft  of  the  nation  are  fitting,  "  each  under  his 
own  vine,  and  under  his  own  fig-tree,  and  there  is  none 
to  make  him  afraid." 

A  moft  valuable  refult  of  fuch  contenfplation  will  be 
a  thorough  convitlion  that  the  grievance  which  is  moft 
clamoroully  inhfted  on  is  the  mevitable  conlequence  of 
the  liberty  and  fecurity  \vhich  we  enjoy.  I  mean  minif- 
•terial  corruption,  with  all  the  difmal  tale  of  placemen,  and 
penfioners,  and  rotten  boroughs,  &c.  &'c.  Thefe  are  ne- 
ver feen  in  a  defpotic  government — there  they  are  not 
wanted — nor  can  they  be  very  apparent  in  an  uncultiva- 
ted and  poor  ftate — but  in  a  luxurious  nation,  where 
pleafures  abound,  where  the  returns  of  induftry  are  fecure; 
here  an  individual  looks  on  every  thing  as  his  own  acqui- 
•lition — he  does  not  feci  his  relation  to  the  ftate — has  no 
■patriotifm' — thinks  that  he  would  be  much  happier  if  the 
ftate  would  let  him  alone. — He  is  fretted  by  the  reftraints 
which  the  public  weal  lays  on  him — therefore  govern- 
ment  and  governors  appear  as  checks  and  hindrances  to 
his  exertions — hence  a  general  inclination  to  relift  admi-. 
.niftration. — Yet  public  bufmefs  muft  be  done,  that  we 
may  lie  down  and  rife  again  in  fafety  and  peace. — Admi- 


342         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

niflration  muft  be  fupported — there  are  always  perfons 
who  wifli  to  pofTefs  the  power  that  is  exercifed  by  the 
prefent  minifters,  and  would  turn  them  out. — How  is  all 
this  to  be  remedied  ? — I  fee  no  way  but  by  applying  to 
the  felfifli  views  of  individuals — by  rewarding  the  friends 
of  adminiftration — this  may  be  done  with  perfeft  virtue 
— ^and  from  this  the  felfifh  will  conceive  hopes,  and  will 
fupport  a  virtuous  miniftry — but  they  are  as  ready  to 
help  a  wicked  on€. — This  becomes  the  greateft  misfor- 
tune of  a  free  nation. — Minifters  are  tempted  to  bribe — 
and,  if  a  fyftematic  oppofition  be  conhdered  as  a  necef- 
fary  part  of  a  praftical  conftitution,  it  is  almoft  indifpen^ 
iable — and  it  is  no  where  fo  prevalent  as  in  a  pure  de- 
mocracy.— Laws  may  be  contrived  to  make  it  very  trou- 
blefome — but  can  never  extirpate  it,  nor  greatly  dimi- 
nilh  it — this  can  be  done  only  by  defpotifm,  or  by  nati- 
onal virtue. — -It  is  a  fliameful  complaint — we  fliould  not 
reprobate  a  few  minifters,  but  the  thoufands  who  take  the 
bribes. — Nothing  tends  fo  much  todiminifh  it  in  a  cor- 
rupted nation  as  great  limitations  to  the  elegibility  of  re- 
prefentatives — and  ihis  is  the  beauty  of  our  conftitution. 

We  have  not  difcovered^  therefore,  by  this  boafted  Il- 
lumination, that  Princes  and  fuperiors  are  ufelefs,  and 
muft  vanifh  from  the  earth;  nor  that  the  people  have  now 
attained  full  age,  and  are  fit  to  govern  themfelves.  We 
want  only  to  revel  for  a  little  on  the  laft  fruits  of  nati- 
onal cultivation,  which  we  would  quickly  confume,  and 
never  allow  to  be  railed  again.— -No  matter  how  this  pro-- 
grefs  began,  whether  from  conceftion  or  ufurpation — We 
poflefs  it,  and  if  M'ife,  we  will  preferve  it,  by  preferving 
its  indifpenfable  fupports.  They  have  indeed  been  fre- 
quently employed  very  improperly,  but  their  moft  per- 
nicious abufe  has  been  this  breed  of  fcribbling  vermin, 
which  have  made  the  body-politic  fuiartin  every  limb.    . 


The  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         §43 

Hear  what  opinion  was  entertained  of  the  fages  of 
France  by  their  Prince,  the  Father  of  Louis  XVL  the 
unfortunate  martyr  of  Monarchy.  "  By  the  principles 
of  our  new  Philofophers,  the  ITirone  no  longer  wears 
the  fplendour  of  divinity.  They  maintain  that  it  arofe 
from  violence,  and  that  by  the  fame  juftice  that  force 
erected  it,  force  may  again  fhake  it,  and  overturn  h. 
The  people  can  never  give  up  their  power.  They  only 
let  it  out  for  their  own  advantage,  and  always  retain  the 
right  to  refcind  the  contraft,  and  refume  it  whenever 
their  perfonal  advantage,  their  only  rule  of  conduct,  re- 
quires it.  Our  philofophers  teach  in  public  what  our 
paffions  fugged  only  in  fecret.  They  fay  to  the  Prince 
that  all  is  permitted  only  when  all  is  in  his  power,  and 
that  his  duty  is  fulfilled  when  he  has  pleafed  his  fancy. 
Then,  furely,  if  the  laws  of  felf-intereft,  that  is,  the  felf- 
will  of  human  paiTions,  fhall  be  fo  generally  admitted, 
that  we  thereupon  forget  the  eternal  laws  of  God  and  of 
Nature,  all  conceptions  of  right  and  wrong,  of  virtue  and 
vice,  of  good  and  evil,mufl  be  extirpated  from  the  human 
heart.  The  throne  muft  totter,  the  fubjeds  mud  become 
unmanageable  and  mutinous,  and  their  ruler  hard-heart- 
ed and  inhuman.  The  people  will  be  incelTanlly  either 
oppreired,or  in  an  uproar." — "  What  fervice  will  it  be  if  i 
order  fuch  a  book  to  be  burnt — the  author  can  wri^e 
another  by  to-morrow."  This  opinion  of  a  Prince  is 
unpolifhedindeed,  and  homely,  but  it  is  juft. 

Weifhaupt  grants  that  "  there  will  be  a  terrible  con- 
vulfion,  and  a  ftorm — but  this  will  be  fucceeded  by  a 
calm— the  unequal  will  now  be  equal — and  when  the 
caufe  of  diffenfion  is  thus  removed,  the  world  will  be  in 
peace."  True,  when  the  caufes  of  diflenfion  are  remov- 
ed. Thus,  the  deftruQion  of  our  crop  by  vermin  is  at 
at  an  end   when  a  flood   has  fwept  every  thing  away— 


344         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION'. 

but  as  new  plants  will  fpring  up  in  the  wafte,  and,  if  not 
inllantly  devoured,  will  again  cover  the  ground  with  vef- 
dure,  fo  the  induftry  of  man,  and  his  defire  of  comfort 
and  confideration,  will  again  accumulate  in  the  hands  of 
the  diligent  a  greater  proportion  of  the  good  things  of  life. 
In  this  infant  Itate  of  the  emerging  remains  of  former  cul- 
tivation, comforts,  which  the  prefent  inhabitants  of  Eu- 
rope would  look  on  with  contempt,  will  be  great,  im- 
proper, and  hazardous  acquifitions.  The  principles 
which  authorife  the  propofed  dreadful  equalifation  will 
as  juftly  entitle  the  idle  or  unfuccefsful  of  future  days  to 
flrip  the  poirefTor  of  his  advantages,  and  things  muft  ever 
remain  on  their  favage  level. 

III.  I  think  that  the  impreffion  which  the  infincerity 
ofcondu8;of  thofe  inftruftors  will  leave  on  the  mind, 
muft  be  highly  ufeful.  They  are  evidently  teaching 
what  they  do  not  believe  themfelves — and  here  I  do  not 
confine  my  remark  to  their  preparatory  doftrines,  which 
they  afterwards  explode.  I  make  it  chiefly  with  refpeft 
to  their  grand  oftenfible  principle,  which  pfivades  tbte 
whole,  a  principle  which  they  are  obliged  to  adopt 
agai«ft  their  will.  They  know  that  ,the  principles  of 
virtue  are  rooted  in  the  heart,  and  that  they  can  only  be 
fmothered — but  did  they  pretend  to  eradicate  them  and 
piioclaim  hominem  homini  lupiim,  all  would  fpurn  at  their 
infl:ru6iion.  We  are  wheedled,  by  tickling  oiir  fancy 
with  the  notion  that  facred  virtue  is  not  only  fecure,  but 
that  it  is  only  in  fuch  hearts  that  it  exerts  its  native  ener- 
gy. Senfible  that  the  levelling  maxims  now  fpoken  of, 
are  revoking  to  the  mind,  the  Illuminators  are  under 
the  necefTity  of  keeping  us  from  looking  at  the  Ihocking 
pifture,  by  difplaying  a  beautiful  fcenc  of  Utopian  hap- 
pinefs — and  they  rock  us  afleep  by  the  eternal  lullaby 
of  morality  and  universal  philanthropy.     Therefore  the 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         345 

foregoing  narration  of  the  perfonal  condu8:  of  thefe  in- 
ftru6lors  and  reformers  of  the  world,  is  highly  ufeful. 
All  this  is  to  be  brought  about  by  the  native  loveiWfs 
of  pure  virtue,  purged  of  the  corruptions  which  fuper- 
ftitious  fears  have  introduced,  and  alfo  purged  of  the 
fclfifh  thoughts  which  are  avowed  by  the  advocates  of 
what  their  opponents  call  true  religion.  This  is  faid  to 
hold  forth  eternal  rewards  to  the  good,  and  to  threaten 
the  wicked  with  dreadful  punifhment.  Experience  has 
lliown  how  inefficient  fuch  motives  are.  Can  they  be 
©therwife,  fay  our  Illuminators  ?  Are  they  not  addreff- 
cd  to  a  principle  that  is  ungenerous  and  felfifh  ?  But  our 
do6lrines,  fay  they,  touch  the  hearts  of  the  worthy. 
Virtue  is  beloved  for  her  own  fake,  and  all  will  yield  to 
her  gentle  fway.  But  look,  Reader,  look  at  Spartacus 
the  murderer — at  Cato  the  keeper  of  poifons  and  the 
thief--*^Look  at  Tiberius,  at  Alcibiades,  and  the  reft  of 
the  Bavarian  Pandemonium .-^^Look  at  Poor  Bahrdt.-^ 
Go  to  France-^look  at  Lequinio — ^at  Condorcet.* — • 
Look  at  the  Monfter  Orleans.-*-All  were  liars.  Th^ir 
divinity  had  no  influence  on  their  profligate  minds. 
They  only  wanted  to  wheedle  you,  by  touching  the 
ftrings  of  humanity  and  goodnefs  which  are  yet  bra^red 
up  in  your  heart,  and  which  will  ftill  yield  fweet  harmo- 
ny if  you  will  accompany  their  notes  with  thofe  of  reli- 
gion, and  neither  clog  them  with  the  groveling  pleafures 
of  fenfe,  nor  damp  th6  whole  with  the  thought  of  eter- 
nal filence. 

*  Th  la  MethiSvLe  fays  (Journ.  de  Phyf.  Notx.  1792)  that  Cort- 
dprcet  was  brought  up  in  the  houfe  of  the  c4d  Duke  of  Rochefou* 
cault,  who  treated  him  as  his  fon — got  Turgot  to  create  a  lucra- 
tive office  for  him,  and  raifed  him  to  all  his  eminence — yet  he  piir- 
lued  him  with  malicious  nsports—^and  a(?rually  employ'ed  ruffians 
to  aiWSnaCe  hrm.     Yet-i*  C$fid<>rc«V«  w*itiB^'  *  B&ad4-«f  h«m»* 

Y  i 


^5        THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION, 

A  mod  worthy  and  accomplifhed  gentleman,  -who. 
took  refuge  in  this  country,  leaving  behind  him  his  pro-, 
perty,  and  friends  to  whom  he  was  mod  tenderly  attach- 
ed, often  faid  to  me  diat  nothing  fo  much  afFeded  him 
as  the  revolution  in  the  hearts  of  men. — Characters 
which  were  unfpotted,  hearts  tho-roughly  known  to  him- 
felf,  having  been  tried  by  many  things  which  fearch  the 
inmoft  folds  of  felfifhnefs  or  malevolence — in  fhort,  per- 
fons  whofe  judgments  were  excellent,  and  on  whofe 
worth  he  could  haverefted  his  honor  and  his  life,  fo 
fafcinated  by  the  contagion,  that  they  came  at  laft  to 
behold,  and  even  to  commit  the  moft  atrocious  crimes 
with  delight. — He  ufed  fometimes  to  utter  a  figh  which 
pierced  my  heart,  and  would  fay,  that  it  was  caufed  by 
fome  of  thofe  things  that  had  come  acrofs  his  thoughts. 
He  breathed  his  laft  among  us,  declaring  that  it  was  im- 
poffible  to  recover  peace  of  mind,  without  a  total  obli- 
vion of  the  wickednefs  and  miferies  he  had  beheld. 
"What  a  valuable  advice,  "  Let  him  that  thinketh  he 
ftandeth,  take  heed  left  he  fall." — When  the  prophet 
told  Hazael  that  he  would  betray  his  Prince,  he  ex- 
claimed, "  Is  thy  fervant  a  dog,  that  he  fiiould  do  fuch 
a  thing .?"     Yet  next  day  he  murdered  him. 

Never,  fince  the  beginning  of  the  world,  has  true  re- 
ligion received  fo  complete  an  acknowledgment  of  her 
excellence,  as  has  been  extorted  from  the  fanatics  who 
have  attempted  to  deftroy  her.  Religion  ftood  in  their 
way,  and  the  wretch  Marat,  as  well  as  the  fteady  villain 
Weifhaupt,  faw  that  they  could  not  proceed  till  they 
had  eradicated  all  fentiments  of  the  moral  government 
of  the  univerfe.  Human  nature,  improved  as  it  has 
been  by  Religion,  flirunk  from  the  tafl^s  that  were  im- 
pofed,  and  it  muft  therefore  be  brutalized — The  grand 
confederation  was  folemnly  fworn  to  by  millioas  in  every 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION'.        347 

corner  of  France — but,  as  Mirabeau  faid  of  the  diecla- 
Tation  of  the  Rights  of  Man,  it  mufl;  be  made  only  the 
*'  Almanac  of  the  bygone  year" — Therefore  Lequinio 
niuft  write  a  book,  declaring  oaths  to  be  nonfenfe,  un- 
worthy of  fanfculottes,  and  all  religion  to  be  a  farce. — 
Not  long  after,  they  found  that  they  had  fome  ufe  for  a, 
God — but  he  was  gone — and  they  could  not  find  another. 
— Their  conftitutioji  was  gone — and  they  have  not  yet 
found  another. — What  is  now  left  them  on  which  they 
can  depend  for  awing  a  man  into  a  refpe6lfor  truth  in 
his  judicial  declarations  ? — what  but  the  honor  of  a  Ci- 
tizen of  France,  who  laughs  at  all  engagements,  which - 
he  has  broken  again  and  again. — Religion  has  taken  oif 
with  her  every  fenfe  of  human  duty. — What  can  we  ex- 
pert but  villany  from  an  Archbifhop  of  Paris  and  his 
chapter,  who  made  a  public  profeffion  that  they  Jiad 
been  playing  the  villains  for  many  years,  teaching  what 
they  thought  to  be  a  bundle  .of  lies  ?  What  but  the  very 
thing  which  they  have  done^  cutting  each  others  throats. 
Have  not  the  enlightened  citizens  of  France  applauded 
the  execution  of  their  fathers  ?  Have  not  the  furies  of 
Paris  denounced  their  own  children  ? — But  turn  your 
eyes  from  the  horrifying  fpeftacle,  and  think  on  your 
own  noble  defccnt  and  alliance.  You  are  not  the  acci- 
dental produftions  of  a  fatal  chaos,  but  the  work  of  a 
Great  Artift,  creatures  ihat  are  cared  for,  born  to  no- 
ble profpeBs,  and  conduced  to  them  by  the  plained  and 
TTioft  fimple  precepts,  "  to  do  juftly,  to  love  mercy, 
and  to  walk  humbly  before  God,"  not  bewildered  by 
the  falfe  and  fluttering  glare  of  French  Philofophy,  but 
conducted  by  this  clear,  fmgle  light,  perceivable  by  all, 
*'  Do  to  others  what  you  fhould  reafonably  expc6l  them 
to  do  to  you." 


348        THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

Think  not  the  Mufe  whofe  fober  voice  you  hear, 

Contrads  with  bigot  frown  her  fuilen  brow, 
Cafts  round  Religion's  orb  the  mills  of  Fear, 

Or  fhades  with  horror  what  with  fmiles  fhould  glow. 

No — fhe  would  warm  you  with  feraphic  fire, 

Heirs  as  ye  are  of  Heaven's  eternal  day. 
Would  bid  you  boldly  to  that  Heaven  afpire. 

Not  fink  and  flumber  in  your  cells  of  clay. 

|s  this  the  bigot's  rant  ?  Away  ye  vain. 

Your"  doubts,  your  fears,  in  gloomy  dulnefs  fteep  ; 

Go — foothe  your  fouls  in  ficknefs,  death,  or  pain. 
With  the  fad  folace  of  eternal  fleep. 

Yet  know,  vain  fceptics,  know,  th'  Almighty  Mind, 

Who  breath'd  on  man  a  portion  of  his  fire, 
Bade  his  free  foul,  by  earth  nor  time  confin'd. 

To  Heaven,  to  immortality  afpire. 

Nor  fhall  this  pile  of  hope  his  bounty  rear'd. 

By  vain  philofophy  be  e'er  deftroy'd  ; 
Eternity,  by  all  or  hop'd  or  fear'd. 

Shall  be  by  all  or  fuffer'd  or  enjoy'd. 

M  A  s  0  w. 

The  unfortunate  Prince  who  has  taken  refuge  in.  this 
kingdom,  and  whofe  fituation  among  us  is  an  illuftrious 
xasiTk  of  the  generofity  of  the  nation,  and  of  the  fove- 
reignty  of  its  laws,  faid  to  one  of  the  Gentlemen  about 
bini,  that  "  if  this  country  was  to  efcape  the  general 
wreck  of  nations,  it  would  owe  its  prefervation  to  Reli- 
gion."— When  this  was  doubted,  and  it  was  obferved, 
that  there  had  not  been  wanting  many  ReligLonifls  in 
France  :  "  True,"  faid  the  Prince,  "  but  they  were 
not  in  earneft. — I  fee  here  a  ferious  interell  in  the  thing. 
The  people  know  what  they  are  doing  when  they  go  to 
church — they  underftand  fomediing  of  it,  and  \take  an 
intereft  in  it."  May  his  obfervation  be  juft,  and  his  ex- 
pedations  be  fuhilkd  ! 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.        34^ 

IV.  I  would  again  call  uport  my  countrywomen  with 
the  raoft  earneft  concern,  and  befeech  them  to  confidcr 
this  iubjeB  as  of  more  particular  importance  to  them- 
felves  than  even  to  the  men. — While  woman  is  conlider- 
ed  as  a  refpeftablc  moral  agent,  training  along  with 
durfelves  for  endlefs  improvement ;  then,  and  only  then» 
will  ihe  be  conCidered  by  lordly  man  as  his  equal ;— -then, 
and  only  then,  will  (he  be  allowed  to  have  ajjy  rights, 
and  tbofe  rights  be  refpecied.  Strip  woteen  of  this  pre- 
rogative, and  they  become  the  drudges  of  man's  indo- 
lence, or  the  pampered  playthings  of  his  i4le  aoiars,,  fub- 
jeft  to  liis  caprices,  and  flaves  to  his  mean  palfioHs.  Soon 
will  their  prefent  empire  of  gajlarttry  be  over.  It  is  a 
refinement  of  manners  which  fprang  from  Chriftianity  ; 
and  when  Chriftianity  is  forgotten,  this  artificial  diadem 
will  be  taken  from  their  heads,  and,  unlefs  they  adopt  the 
ferocious  fentiments  of  their  Gallic  neighbours,  and  join 
in  the  general  uproar,  they  will  fink  into  the  infignificance 
of  the  women  in  the  turbulent  republics  of  Greece,, 
where  they  are  never  feen  in  the  bufy  haunts  of  men,  if 
■we  except  four  or  five,  who,  during  the  courJe  ofasma- 
oy  centuries,  emerged  from  the  general  obfcuritv,  and 
a.ppear  in  the  hiftoric  page,  by  their  uncommon  talents, 
and  by  the  facrifice  of  what  my  fair  eountrywoitien  fliil 
hald.  to  be  the  ornament  of  their  fex.  I  would  rerflind 
theiTQ  that  they  have  it  in  their  power  to  retain  their  pre- 
ient  honorable  ftation  in  fociety.  They  are  our  early 
inftrutloTs,  and  while  mothers  in  the  refpedable  Rations 
of  life  continued  to  inculcate  on  the  tender  minds  of  their 
fons  a  veneration  for  the  precepts  of  Religion,  their  pli- 
ent  children,  receiving  their  inllruftions  along  with  the 
affectionate  carefics  of  their  mothers,  got  iinpreflionst 
which  long  retained  their  force,  and  which  protected 
them  from  the  iinpulfcs  of  youthful  paffions,  lill  ripeninj;. 
years   fitted  their  minds  for  liftening  to  ferious  inllruBi- 


350        THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

on  from  their  public  teachers.  Sobriety  and  decency  of 
manners  were  then  no  flur  on  the  charaQer  of  a  youth,  and 
he  was  thought  capable  of  ftruggling  for  independence, 
or  pre-eminence,  fit  either  for  fupporting  or  defending 
the  ftate,  although  he  was  neither  a  toper  nor  a  rake.  I 
believe  that  no  man  who  has  feen  thirty  or  forty  years  of 
life  will  deny  that  the  manners  of  youth  are  fadly  chang-" 
ed  in  this  refpe6l.  And,  without  prefuming  to  fay  that 
this  has  proceeded  from  the  negleft,  and  almoft:  total  cef-- 
ftition  of  the  moral  education  of  the  nurfery,  I  think  my- 
felf  well  warranted,  from  my  own  obfervation,  to  fay 
that  this  education  and  the  fober  manners  of  young  men 
have  quitted  us  together. 

Some  will  call  this  prudery,  and  croaking.  But  I  am 
almoft  tranfcribing  from  Cicero,  and  from  Quintilian. — 
Cornelia,  Aurelia,  Attia,  and  other  ladies  of  the  firft 
rank,  are  prailed  by  Cicero  only  for  their  eminence  in  this 
refpeQ:  ;  but  not  becaufelhey  were  j/?7i^ii/(2r.  Quintili- 
an fays,  that  in  the  time  immediately  prior  to  his  own,  it 
had  been  the  general  prafticeof  the  ladies  of  rank'to  fuper- 
ifitend  the  moral  education  both  of  fons  and  daughters. 
But  of  late,  fays  he,  they  are  fo  engaged  in  continual  and 
corrupting  amufements,  fuch  as  the  fhows  of  gladiators, 
horfe-racing,  and  deep  play,  that  they  have  no  time,  and 
have  yielded  their  places  to  Greek  governelTes  and  tu- 
tors, outcafts  of  a  nation  more  fubdued  by  their  own  vi- 
ces than  by  the  Roman  arms.  I  dare  fay  this  was  laugh- 
ed at,  as  croaking  about  the  corruption  of  the  age« 
But  what  was  the  confequence  of  all  this  ? — The  Ro- 
mans became  the  raoft  abandoned  voluptuaries,  and,  to 
preferve  their  mean  pleafures,  they  crouched  as  willing 
{laves  to  a  fucceffion  of  the  vilell  tyrants  that  ever  dif- 
graced  humanity. 


THE  FxRENCH  REVOLUTION.         351 

What  a  noble  fund  of  ft^lf-eftimation  would  our  fair 
pfartners  acquire  to  themfelves,  if,  by  reforming  the 
manners  of  the  young  generation,  they  fhould  be  the 
means  of  reftoring  peace  to  the  world  !  They  have  it  in 
their  power^  by  the  renewal  of  the  good  old  cuftom  of 
early  inftruftion,  and  perhaps  ftill  more,  by  impreffing 
on  the  minds  of  their  daughters  the  fame  fentiments,  and 
obliging  them  to  refpetl  fobriety  and  decency  in  the 
youth,  and  pointedly  to  witb-hold  their  fmiles  and  civi- 
lities from  all  who  tranfgrefsthefc  i*a  the  fmalleft  degree. 
This  is  a  method  of  proceeding  that  will  mojl  certainly 
be  viBorious.  Then  indeed  will  the  women  be  the  fa- 
viours  of  their  country.  While  therefore  the  German 
fair  have  been  repeatedly  branded  with  having  welcomed 
the  French  invaders,*  let  our  Ladies  ftand  up  for  the 
honor  of  free-born  Britons,  by  turning  againft  the  pre- 
tended enlighteners  of  the  world,  the  arms  which  nature 
has  put  into  their  hands,  and  which  thofe  profligates 
have  prefumptuoufly  expcfted  to  employ  in  extending 
their  influence  over  mankind.  The  empire  of  beauty 
is  but  fhort,  but  the  empire  of  virtue  is  durable  ;  nor  is 
there  an  inftance  to  be  met  with  of  its  decline.  If  it  be 
yet  poflible  to  reform  the  world,  it  is  poffible  for  the 
fair.  By  the  conftitution  of  human  rvature,  they  muft 
always  appear  as  the  ornament  of  human  life,  anii  be 
the  objeBs  of  fondnefs  and  aifctlion  ;  fo  that  if  any 
thing  can  make  head  againft  the  felfifli  and  overbearing 
difpofitions  of  man,  it  is  his  refpeftful  regard  for  the  fcx. 

.  '  *  I  have  met  with  this  charge  m  many  places  ;  and  one  book 
in  particular,  written  by  a  Pruilian  General  Officer,  who  was  in 
the  country  over-run  by  the  French  troops,  gives  a  detail  of  the  cor- 
du(fb  of  the  V\'omen  that  is  very  remarkable.  He  alfo  fays,  that  in- 
fidelity has  become  very  prevalent  among  the  ladies  in  the  higlier 
circles.  Indeed  this  melancholy  account  is  to  be  found  in  many 
paiTages  of  the  privarc  correspondence  of  the  Illuminati. 


352        THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

But  mere  fondnefs  has  but  little" of  the  rational  creature 
in  it,  and  we  fee  it  harbour  every  day  in  the  breaft  that 
is  filled  with  the  ineaneft  and  inoft  turbulent  paffions. 
No  where  is  it  fo  ftrong  as  in  the  harems  of  the  eaft  ;  and 
as  long  as  the  women  afl^  nothing  of  the  men  but  fond- 
tiefs  and  admiration,  they  will  get  nothing  elfe-^they 
will  never  be  refpefted.  But  let  them  roufe  themfelves,' 
aiTert  their  dignity,  by  fhewing  their  own  elevated  fen- 
timents  of  human  nature,  and  by  afting  up  to  this  claim, 
and  they  may  then  command  th^  world. 

V.  Another  good  confequence  that  fhould  refult  from 
the  account  that  has  been  given  of  the  proceedings  of 
this  con fpi racy  is,  that  fmce  the  fafcinating  pitlure  of 
human  life,  by  which  men  have  beeu  Vv'heedled  into  im- 
mediate anarchy  and  rebellion,  is  infincere,  an^  a  mere 
artificial  creature  of  the  imagination,  it  can  have  no  ftea- 
dinefs,  but  muft  be  changed  by  every  freak  of  fancy,  or 
by  every  ingenious  fophift,  who  can  give  an  equal  plau- 
fibilify  to  wbateveT  fuits  his  prefent  views.  It  is  as  much 
an  airy  phantom  as  any  otltcr  whim  of  Free  Mafonry, 
and  has  no  prototype,  no  original  pattern  in  human  na- 
ture, to  which  recourfe  may  ahvays  be  had,  to^  correft 
miflakes,  and  keep  things  in  a  conftant  tenor.  Has  not 
France  given  the  moft  unequivocal  proofs  of  this  ?  Was 
not  the  declaration  of  the  Rights  of  Man,  the  produftion 
of  their  moft  brilliant  Illuminators,  a  pifture  in  ahjira^o., 
where  man  was  placed  "at  a  diftance  from  the  eye,  that  no 
falfe  light  of  local  fituation  might  pervert  the  judgment 
or  engage  the  paffions  }■  Was  it  not  declared  to  be  the 
raafterpiece  of  huriian  wifdom  ?  Did  not  the  nation  con- 
fider  it  at  Icifurc  ?  and  having  it  continually  before  their 
eyes,  did  they  not,  ftcp  by  flep,  give  their  aflent  to  th^ 
different  articles  of  their  Conftitution,  derived  from  it, 
and  fabricated  by  their  moft  chgice  Iliuminators  i  AncJ 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION^.         353 

did  not  this  Conftitution  draw  the  applaiifes  of  the  bright 
geniufes  of  other  nations,  who  by  this  time  were  bufy  in 
perfuading,  each  his  countrymen,  that  they  were  igno- 
ramufcs  in  ftatiftics,  and  patient  flaves  of  oppreflion  or 
of  ancient  prejudices  ?  Did  not  panegyrics  on  it  ifFiie 
from  every  ganet  in  London  ?  Where  is  it  now  ?  where 
is  its  fucceflbr  ?  Has  any  one  plan  of  government  fiib- 
fifted,  except  while  it  was  fupported;by  the  incontroula- 
ble  and  inexorable  power  of  the  guillotine  ?  Is  not  the 
prefent  adminiftration  of  France  as  much  as  ever  the  ob- 
ject of  difcontent  and  of  terror,  and  its  coercions  as  like 
as  ever  to  the  fummary  juftice  of  the  Parihan  mob  ?  Is 
there  any  probability  of  its  peniianency  in  a  ftate  of 
peace,  when  the  fears  of  a  foreign  enemy  no  longer  give 
a  confolidation  to  their  meafures,  and  oblige  them  ei- 
ther to  agree  among  themfelves,or  immediately  to  perifh? 

VI.  The  above  accounts  evince  in  the  mod  uncon- 
trovertible manner  the  dangerous  tendency  of  all  rayfti- 
cal  focieties,  and  of  all  affociations  who  hold  fecret 
meetings.  'We  fee  that  their  uniform  pvogrefs  has  been 
from  frivolity  and  nonfenfe  to  wickednefs  and  fedition. 
Weifliaupt  has  been  at  great  pains  to  fhow  the  good  ef- 
fects of  fecrecy  in  the  Affociation,  and  the  arguments 
are  valid  for  his  purpofe. — But  all  his  arguments  are  fo 
manydifTuafive  advices  to  every  thinking  and  fober  mind< 
The  man  who  really  wifhes  todifcovcr  anabflrufe  truth 
will  place.himfelf,  if  poiiible,  in  a  calm  fituation,  and 
will  by  no  meatus  expofe  himfelf  to  the  impatient  hank- 
ering for  fecrets  and  wonders — and  he  will  always  fear 
that  a  thing  which  refolutely  conceals  itfelf  cannot  bear 
the  light.  All  who  have  ferioufly  employed  themfelve$ 
in  the  difcovery  of  truth  have  found  the  great  advanta- 
ges of  open  communication  of  fentiment.  And  it  is 
.       .  W  ^ 


154         "^HE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION^. 

againft  common  fenfe  to  imagine  that  there  is  any  thir^g" 
of  vaft  importance  to  mankind  which  is  yet  a  fecret,  and 
which  muft  be  kept  a  fecret  in  order  to  be  ufefuh  This 
is  againft  the  whole  experience  of  mankind — And  furely 
to  hug  in  one's  breaft  a  fecret  of  fuch  mighty  importance, 
is  to  give  the  lie  to  all  our  profeffions  of  brotherly  love. 
What  a  folecifm  I  a  fecret  to  enlighten,  and  reform  the 
"whole  world. — We  render  all  our  endeavours  impotent 
vhen  we  grafp  at  a  thing  beyond  our  power.  Let  an  af- 
fociation  be  formed  with  a  ferious  plan  for  reforming 
its  own  members,  and  let  them  extend  their  numbers  in 
proportion  as  they  fucceed — this  might  do  fome  good, — 
But  muft  the  way  of  doing  this  be  a  fecret  ? — It  may  be 
to  many — who.  will  not  look  for  it  where  it  is  to  be  found 
— It  is  this, 

«•  Do  good- — feefc  peace — and  purfue  it.'* 

But  it  is  almoft  affronting  the  reader  to  fuppofe  argu- 
ments neceffary  on  this  point.  If  there  be  a  neceflity 
for  fecrecy,  the  purpofe  of  the  Affociation  is  either  frir 
volous,  or  it  is  felfilh. 

Now,  in  either  cafe,  the  danger  ofTuch  fecret  alTem- 
blies  is  manifeft. — Mere  frivolity  can  never  ferioufly  oc- 
cupy men  come  to  age.  And  accordingly  we  fee  that 
in  every  quarter  of  Europe  where  Free  Mafonry  has 
been  cftablifhed,  the  Lodges  have  become  feedbeds  of 
public  raifchjef.  I  believe  t-hat  no  ordinary  Broths 
will  fay,  that  the  occupations  in  the  Lodges  are  any 
thing  better  than  frivolous,  very  frivolous  indeed.  The 
diftribution  of  charity  needs  be  no  fecret,  and  it  is  but  a 
very  fmall  part  of  the  employment  of  the  meeting. — 
This  being  the  cafe,  it  is  in  human  nature  that  the  great- 
er we  fuppofe  the  frivolity  of  fuch  an  affociation  to  be, 
the  greater  is  the  chance  gf  its  ceafing  to  g^ive  fuffxieot 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.        355 

occupation  to  the  mind,  and  the  greater  is  the  riflv  that 
the  meetings  may  be  employed  to  other  purpofes  which 
require  concealment.  When  this  happens,  felf-intereft 
alone  muft  prompt  and  rule,  and  now  there  is  no  length 
that  fome  men  will  not  go,  when  they  think  themfelves 
in  no  danger  of  det^Hron  and-punifhment.  The  whole 
proceedings  of  the  fecret  focieties  of  Free  Mafons  on  the 
Continent  (and  I  am  authorifed  to  fay,  of  fome  Lodges 
in  Britain)  have  taken  one  turn,  and  this  turn  is  perfed- 
}y  natural.  In  all  countries  there  are  men  of  licentious 
morals.  Such  men  wifh  to  have  a  fafe  opportunity  of 
indulging  their  wits  in  fetire  and  farcafm  ;  and  they  are 
pleafed  with  the  fupport  of  others. — The  defire  of  mak- 
ing profelyt-es  is  in  every  breaft — and  it  is  whetted  by 
the  reftraints  of  fociety. — -And  all  countries  have  difcon- 
tented  men,  whofe  grumblings  will  raife  difcontent  in 
others,  who  might  not  have  attended  to  fome  of  the 
trifling  hardfhips  and  injuries  they  met  with,  had  they 
not  been  reminded  of  them.  To  be  difcontented,  and  not 
to  think  of  fchemes  of  redrcfs,  is  what  we  cannot  think 
natural  or  manly  ; — and  where  can  fuch  fentimeuts  and 
Schemes  find  fuch  fafe  utterance  and  fuch  probable  fup- 
port as  in  a  fecret  fociety  ?  Free  Mafonry  is  innocent 
of  all  thefe  things  ;  but  Free  Mafonry  has  been  abufed, 
and  at  laft  totally  perverted — and  fo  will  and  muft  any 
fuch  fecret  afTociation,  as  long  as  men  are  licentious  in 
their  opinions  or  wicked  in  their  difpofitions. 

It  were  devoutly  to  be  wiHied  therefore  that  tlie  whole 
Fraternity  would  imitate  the  truly  benevolent  condutt 
of  thofe  German  Lodges  who  have  formally  broken  up, 
and  made  a  patriotic  facrifice  of  their  amufcment  to  the 
fafety  of  the  ftate.  I  cannot  think  the  facrifice  great  or 
coftly.  It  can  be  no  difficult  matter  to  tind  as  pleafant  a- 
way  of  palling  a  vacant  hour — and  the  charitabk  dctdi 


35^         THE  FRExN'CH  REVOLUTION. 

of  the  members  need  not  diminifli  in  the  fmalleft  degree. 
Every  perfon's  httle  circle  of  acquaintance  will  give  him 
opportunities  of  gratifying  his  kind  difpofitions,  without 
the  chance 'of  being  miftaken  in  the  worth  of  the  perfon 
on  whom  he  bellows  his  favors.  There  is  )no  occafion 
10  go  to  St.  Peterfburg  for  a  poor  Brother,  nor  to  India 
for  a  convert  to  Chriftianity,  as  long^as  we  fee  fo  many 
fafferers  and  infidels  among  ourfelves. 

But  not  only  are  fecret  focieties  dangerous,  but  all  fo- 
cieties  whofe  object  is  myfterious.  The  whole  hiftory 
of  man  is  a  proof  of  this  pofition.  In  no  age  or  country 
has  there  ever  appeared  a  myfterious  affociation  which 
did  not  in  time  become  a  public  nuifance.  Ingenious  of 
defigning  men  of  letters  have  attempted  to  Ihow  that 
fome  of  the  ancient  myfteries  were  ufeful  to  mankind, 
containing  rational  do6trines  of  natural  religion.  This 
was  the  ftrong  hold  of  Weifhaupt,  and  he  quotes  the 
Eleufmian,  the  Pythagorean,  and  other  myfteries.  But 
furely  their  external  figns  and  tokens  were  every  thing 
that  is  fliocking  to  decency  and  civil  order.  It  is  un- 
common prefuraption  for  the  learned  of  the  i8th  centu- 
ry to  pretend  to  know  more  about  them  than  their  con- 
temporaries, the  philofophers,  the  lawgivers  of  antiquity. 
Tliefe  give  no  fuch  account  of  them.  I  would  defire 
any  perfon  who  admires  the  ingenious  difiertations  of 
Dr.  Warburton  to  read  a  dull  German  book,  called  Ca- 
raBerifcik  der  Myflericn  der  Altej-n,  publifhed  at  Fja-nk- 
fort  in  1787.  The  author  contents  himfelf  with  a  pati- 
ent collection  of  every  fcrap  of  every  ancient  author 
who  has  faid  any  thing  about  them.  If  the  reader  can 
fee  any  thing  in  them  but  the  moft  abfard  and  immoral 
polytheifm  and  fable,  he  rauft  take  words  iu  a  fenfe  that 
is  ufclefs  in  reading  any  other  piece  of  ancient  conipofi- 
tion.     1  have  a  notion  that  the  Dionyfiacs  of  Ionia  had 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         357 

fome  fciitntific  fecrets,  viz.  all  the  knowledge  of.pra6li- 
cal  mechanics  which  was  employed  by  their  architects 
and  engineers,  and  that  they  were  really  a  Mafonic  Fra- 
ternity. But,  like  the  lUuminati,  they  tagged  to  the  fe- 
crets of  Mafonry  the  ferret  of  drunkennefs  and  debauch- 
ery ;  they  had  their  Sifter  Lodges,  and  at  laft  became 
rebels,  fubvertersof  the  States  where  they  were  proieft* 
ed,  till  aiming  at  the  dominion  of  all  Ionia,  they  were  at- 
tacked by  the  neighbouring  States  and  difperfed.  They 
^ere  Illuminators  too,  and  wanted  to  introduce  the  wor- 
ihip  of  Bacchus  over  the  whole  country,  as  appears  in  the 
account  oj  them  given  by  Strabo. — Perhaps  the  Pytha- 
goreans had  alfo  forae  fcientific  fecrets  j  but  they  too 
were  Illuminators,  and  thought  it  their  duty  to  overfet 
the  Stale,  and  were  themfelvcs  overfet. 

Nothing  is  fo  dangerous  as  a  myflic  Aflfociation.  The 
obje6l  remaining  a  fecret  in  the  hands  of  the  managers,  the 
reft  fimply  put  a  ring  in  their  own  nofss,  by  which  they 
may  be  led  about  at  pleafure  ;  and  ftill  panting  after  the 
fecret,  they  are  the  better  pleafed  the  lefs  they  fee  of 
their  way.-  A  myftical  obje-tl  enables  the  leader  to  fhift 
his  ground  as. he  pleafcs,  and  to  accommodate  himfclf  to 
every  current  faihion  or  prejudice.  This  again  gives 
him  almoll  unlimited  power  ;  for  he  can  make  ufe  of 
thefe  prejudices  to  lead  men  by  troops.  Ke  finds  them 
already  affociated  by  their  prejudices,  and  waiting  for  a 
leader  to  concentrate  their  {Iren^rth  and  fct  them  in  mo- 
tion.  And  when  once  great  bodies  of  men  arc  fet  in 
motion,  with  a  creature  of  their  fancy  for  a  guide,  even 
the  engineer  himfelf  cannot  fay,  "  Thus  far  {halt  thou 
go,  and  no  farther." 

VII.  We  may  alfo  gather  from  what  we  have  feert, 
ihatall  declamations  on   univerfal  philanthropy  are  dan- 


358         THE  FRENCPI  REVOLUTION. 

gerous.  Their  natural  and  immediate  efFeft  on  the 
mind  is  to  increafe  the  difcontents  of  the  unfortunate, 
and  of  thofe  in  the  laborious  ranks  of  life.  No  one, 
even  of  the  Illuminators,  will  deny  that  thefe  ranks  muft 
be  filled,  if  fociety  exifts  in  any  degree  of  cultivation 
whatever,  and  that  there  will  always  be  a  greater  num- 
ber of  men  who  have  no  farther  profpeQ.  Surely  it  is 
unkind  to  put  fuch  men  continually  in  mind  of  a  Hate  in 
which  they  might  be  at  their  eafe;  and  it  is  unkindnefs 
unmixed,  becaufe  all  the  change  that  they  will  produce 
will  be,  that  James  will  ferve  John,  v;ho  formerly  was 
the  fervant  of  James.  Such  declamations  naturally  tend 
<o  caufe  men  to  make  light  of  the  obligations  and  duties 
of  common  patriotifm,  becaufe  thefe  are  reprefented  as 
fubordinate  and  inferior  to  the  greater  and  more  noble 
affettion  of  univerfal  benevolence.  I  do  not  pretend  to 
fay  that  patriotifm  is  founded  in  a  rationally-perceived 
pre-eminence  or  excellence  of  the  fociety  with  which  we 
are  connected.  But  if  it  be  a  fatl  that  fociety  will  not 
advance  unlefs  its  members  take  an  intereft  in  it,  and 
that  human  nature  improves  only  in  -fociety,  furely  this 
intereft  fliould  be  cherilbed  in  every  breaft.  Perhaps 
national  union  arifes  from  national  animofity  ; — but  they 
are  plainly  diftinguifhable,  and  union  is  not  necelTarily 
produ&ive  of  injuftice.  The  fame  arguments  that  have 
any  force  againft  patriotifm  are  equally  good  againft  the 
preference  which  natural  inftinft  gives  parents  for  their 
children  ;  and  furely  no  one  can  doubt  of  the  propriety 
of  maintaining  this  in  its  full  force,  fubjecl  however  to 
the  precife  lawsof  juftice. 

But  I  am  in  the  wrong  to  adduce  paternal  or  filial  af- 
fection in  defence  of  patriotifm  and  loyalty,  fmce  even 
thofe  natural  inftin6;s  are  reprobated  by  the  Illuminati^' 
ai  hoftile  to  the  all-comprehending  philanthropy.     Mr. 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         35^ 

de  la  Metherie  fays,  that  among  the  memorials  fent  frora 
the  clubs  in  England  to  the  National  Affembly,  he  read 
two  (printed)  in  which  the  AlTenably  was  requeded  to 
«{lablifli  a  community  of  wives,  and  to  take  childrea 
from  their  parents,  and  educate  them  for  the  nation.  In 
full  compliance  with  this  dictate  of  univerfal  philanthro- 
py, Weifliaupt  would  have  murdered  hi^  own  child  and 
his  concubine — ajid  Orleans  voied  the  death  of  his  near 
relation. 

Indeed,  of  all  the  confequcnces  of  Illumination,  the 
moft  melancholy  is  this  revolution  which  it  feems  to 
operate  in  the  heart  of  man — this  forcible  facrifice  of 
every  aiFeftion  of  the  heart  to  an  ideal  divinity,  a  mert 
creature  of  the  imagination. — It  feems  a  prodi':;;y,  yet  it 
is  a  matter  of  experience^  that  the  farther  we  advance, 
or  vainly  fuppofe  that  we  dc^  advance,  in  the  knowledge 
of  our  mental  powers,  the  more  are  our  moral  feeling* 
flattened  and  done  away.  I  remember  reading,  long 
ago,  a  differtation  on  the  niirfing  of  infants  by  a  French 
academician,  Le  Cointre  of  Verfailles.  He  indelicately 
fupports  his  theories  by  the  cafe  of  his  own  fon,  a  weak 
puny  infant,  whom  his  mother  was  obliged  to  keep  con- 
tinually applied  to  her  bofom,  fo  that  fixe  rarely  could 
get  two  hours  of  fleep  during  the  time  of  fiickling  him^ 
Mr.  Le  Cointre  fays,  that  Ihe  contraQed  for  this  infant 
"  une  partialitc  toiU-d-fait  deraifonable." — Plato,,  or  So- 
crates, or  Cicero,  would  probably  have  explained  thi* 
by  the  habitual  exercife  of  pity,  a  very  endearing  emo- 
tion.— But  our  Academician,  better  illuminated,  folvcs 
it  by  ftimuli  on  the  papillos^  and  on  the  nerves  of  the: 
fliin,  and  by  the  meeting  of  the  humifying  aura,  &c.  and 
docs  not  feem  to  think  that  young  Le  Cointre  was  mucb 
indebted  to  his  mothen  It  would  amufe  me  to  leara 
that  this  was  the  wretch  Le  Cointre,  Major  of  the  Nar 


35o        THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTIOM". 

tional  Guards  of  VeiTailles,  who  countenanced  and  en- 
couraged the  ihocking  treafon  and  barbarity  of  thofe  ruf- 
fians on  the  5th  and  6lh  of  October  1789.  Complcti 
freezing  of  the  heart  would  (I  think)  be  the  confequence 
of  a  theory  which  could  perfectly  explain  the  affetlions 
by  vibratigns  or  cryftallizations. — Nay,  any  very  per- 
fe6l  theory  of  moral  fentiments  muft  have  fomething  of 
this  tendency. — Perhaps  the  ancient  fyftems  of  moral 
philofophy,  which  were  chiefiy  fearchcs  after  the  fum- 
muvi  bonu77i,  and  fyllemsof  moral  duties,  tended  more 
to  form  and  llrengthen  the  heart,  and  produce  a  worthy 
man,  than  the  moft  perfeQ:  theory  of  modern  times, 
which  explains  every  phenomenon  by  means  of  a  nice 
anatomy  of  our  affetiions. 

So  far  therefore  as  we  are  really  more  illuminated,  it 
may  chance  to  give  us  an  eafier  vidory  over  the  natural 
or  inftinftive  attachments  of  mankind,  and  make  the  fa- 
crihce  to  univerfal  philanthropy  lefs  coflly  to  the  heart. 
I  do  not  however  pretend  to  fay  that  this  is  really  the 
cafe  :  but  I  thinkmyfelf  fully  warranted  to  fay,  that  in- 
crcafe  of  virtuous  affeftions  jn  general  has  not  been  the 
fruit  of  modern  Illumination.  I  will  not  again  ficken 
the  reader,  by  calling  his  attention  to  Weifliaupt  and  his 
affociates  or  fucceflbrs.  But  let  us  candidly  contem- 
plate the  world  around  us,  and  particularly  the  perpetu- 
al a-dvocates  of  univerfal  philanthropy.  What  have  been 
the  general  effefts  of  their  continual  declamations?  Sure- 
ly  very  melancholy  ;  nor  can  it  eafily  be  othenvife.-— • 
An  ideal  ftandard  is  cojitinually  referred  to.  This  is 
made  gigantic,  by  being  always  fecn  indiftinftly,  as  thro' 
a  mift,  or  rather  a  fluttering  air.  In  comparifon  with 
this,  every  feeling  that  we  have  been  accuilomed  to  re- 
fpetl  vanifhes  as  infignificant ;  and, adopting  the  Jefuiti- 
cal maxim, that  "the  great  end  fan^iifies  every  meanj"  this 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.        3^4 

fum  of  Cofmo-politicalt>^ood  is  made  to  cclipfe  or  cover 
all  the  prefent  fevils  whic\j  muft  be  endured  for  it.  The 
fafcl  now  is,  that  we  are  become  fo  familiarifed  with  enor- 
mities, fuch  as  brutality  to  the  weaker  fex,  cruelty  to 
old  age,  v/anton  refinement  on  barbarity,  that  we  now 
hear  unmoved  accounts  of  fcenes,  from  which,  a  few 
years  ago,  we  would  have  fhrunk  back  with  horror. 
With  cold  hearts,  and  a  metaphyfical  fcale,  we  mcafure 
the  prefent  miferies  of  our  fellow-creatures,  and  com^ 
pare  them  with  the  accumulated  miferies  of  former  times, 
occafioned  through  a  courfe  of  ages,  and  afcribed  to  the 
ambition  of  Princes.  In  this  artificial  manner  are  the 
atrocities  of  France  extenuated ;  and  we  flruggle,  and 
partly  fuccecd,  in  reafoning  ourfelves  out  of  all  the  feel- 
ings which  link  men  together  in  fociety. — The  ties  of 
father,  hufband,  brother,  friend — all  are  abandoned 
for  an  emotion  which  we  muft  even  ftrive  to  excite — 
univerfal  philanthropy.  But  this  is  fad  perverfion  of 
nature.  "  He  that  loveth  not  his  brother  whom  he  hath 
feen,  how  can  he  love  God  whom  he  hath  not  feen  ? ' — ■ 
Still  lefs  can  he  love  this  ideal  being,  of  which  he  labours 
to  conjure  up  fome  indiftinft  and  fleeting  notion,  ,  It  is 
alfo  highly  abfurd ;  for,  in  trying  to  colle6l  the  circum- 
ftances  which  conftitute  the  enjoyments  of  this  Citizert 
of  the  World,  we  find  ourfelves  juft  brought  back  to 
the  very  moral  feeling's  which  we  are  wantonly  throwing 
away.  Weifliaupt  allures  us  by  the  happinefs  of  the 
patriarchal  life  as  the  fumimim  bonum  of  man.  But  if  it 
is  any  thing  more  than  eating  and  fleeping,  and  bullying 
with  the  neighbouring  patriarchs,  it  muft  connft  in  the 
domeftic  and  neighbourly  affeftions,  and  every  other 
agreeable  moral  feeling,  all  which  are  to  be  had  in  our 
prefent  ftate  in  greater  abundance. 


X  X 


3€a        THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

.  But  this  is  all  a  pretence; — the  wicked  corrupters  of 
mankind  have  no  fuch  views  of  hum.^n  fehcity,  nor 
would  they  be  contented  with  it; — they  want  to  intrigue 
and  to  lead ; — and  their  patriarchal  life  anfwers  the  fame 
purpofe  of  tickling  the  fancy  as  the  Arcadia  of  the  po- 
ets. Horace  fhows  the  frivolity  of  thefe  declamations, 
>vithout  formally  enouncing  the  moral,  in  his  pretty  Ode, 

Beatns  iUe  qui  procul  negoflis. 

The  ufurer^  after  expatiating  on  this  Arcadian  felicity, 
hurries  away  to  change,  and  puts  his  whole  calli  again 
out  to  ufury. 

Equally  ineffeclive  are  the  declamations  of  Cofmo- 
politifm  on  a  mind  filled  with  felfifh  paffions  ; — they  juft 
ferve  it  for  a  fubterfuge. — The  ties  of  ordinary  life  are 
broken  in  the  firft  place,  and  the  Citizen  of  the  World 
is  a  wolf  of  the  defert. 

The  unhappy  confequence  is,  that  the  natural  pro^ 
grefs  of  liberty  is  retarded.  Had  this  ignis  fatuus  not 
appeared  and  mifled  us,  the  improvements  which  true 
Illumination  has  really  produced,  the  increafe  in  fcien- 
ces  and  arts,  and  the  improvement  in  our  eflimate  of 
life  and  happinefs,  would  have  continued  to  work  fi- 
lently  and  gradually  in  all  nations ;  and  thofe  which  are 
lefs  fortunate  in  point  of  government  would  alfo  have 
improved,  bit  by  bit,  without  lofmg  any  fenfible  portion 
of  their  prefent  enjoyments  in  the  poffeffion  of  riches, 
or  honors,  or  power.  Thofe  pretenfions  would  gradu- 
ally have  come  to  balance  each  other,  and  true  liberty, 
fuch  as  Britons  enjoy,  might  have  taken  place  over  all. 

Inflead  of  this,  the  inhabitants  of  every  State  are  put 
into  a  fituation  where  eyery  individual  is  alarmed  and 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.        56J 

mjured  by  the  fuccefs  of  another,  becaufe  all  pre-emi- 
nence is  criminal.  Therefore  there  muft  be  perpetual 
jealoufy  and  ftruggle.  Princes  are  now  alarmed,  fince 
they  fee  the  aim  of  the'  lower  clafles,  and  they  repent  of 
their  former  liberal  oonceflions.  All  parties  maintain  a 
fullen  diftance  and  referve  ; — the  people  become  unruly, 
and  the  Sovereign  hard-hearted ;  fo  that  liberty,  fuch  as 
cajihc  enjoyed  in  peace,  is  banifhed  from  the  country. 

VIII.  When  we  fee  how  eagerly  the  Illuminati  en>. 
deavoured  to  infinuate  their  Brethren  into  all  offices 
which  gave  them  influence  on  the  public  mind,  and  par- 
ticularly into  feminaries  of  education,  we  fhould  be  par- 
ticularly careful  to  prevent  them,  and  ought  to  examine 
with  anxious  attention  the  manner  of  thinking  of  all  who 
offer  themfelves  for  teachers  of  youth.  There  is  no 
part  of  the  fecret  correfpondence  of  Spartacus  and  his 
Affociates,  in  which  we  fee  more  varied  and  artful  me- 
thods for  fecuring  pupils,  than  in  his  own  condud  rrf»- 
fpefting  the  ftudents  in  the  Univerfity,  and  the  injunc- 
tions he  gives  to  others.  There  are  two  men,  Socher 
and  Drexl,  who  had  the  general  infpeftion  of  the  fchools 
ir\the  Eleftorate.  They  are  treated  by  Spartacus  as 
perfons  of  the  greateit  confequence,  and  the  infl:ru8;ions 
given  them  ftick  at  no  kind  of  corruption,  Weifhaupt 
is  at  pains,  by  circuitous  and  mean  arts,  to  induce  young 
gentlemen *to  come  under  his  care,  and,  to  one  whom  he 
defcribes  in  another  ktter  as  a  little  mafter  who  muit 
have  much  indulgence,  he  caufes  it  to  be  intimated,  that 
in  the  quarters  where  he  is  to  be  lodged,  lie  wiM  get  the 
key  of  the  ftreet-door,  fo  that  he  can  admit  whbm  he 
will.  In  all  this  canvaffing  he  never  quits  the  great  ob- 
je8:,  the  forming  the  mind  of  the  young  man  according 
to  the  principles  of  univerfal  Liberty  and  Equality,  and 
to  gain  this  point,  fcrnples  not  to  flatter,  and  even  igk 


^4       THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

excite  his  dangerous  paffions.  We  may  be  certain,  that 
the  zeal  of  Cormo-politifm  will  operate  in  the  fame  way 
in  other  men,  and  we  ought  therefore  to  be  folicitous  to 
have  all  that  are  the  inflrudors  of  youth,  perfons  of  the 
m oft  decent  manners.  No  queftion  but  fobriety  and 
hypocrify  may  inhabit  the  fame  breaft.  But  its  immedi^ 
ate  effeft  on  the  pupil  is  at  leaft  fafe,  and  it  is  always 
eafy  for  a  fenfible  parent  to  reprefent  the  reftri6lions  laid 
on  the  pupil  by  fuch  a  man  as  the  efFeds  of  uncommon 
anxiety  for  his  fafety.  Whereas  there  is  no  cure  for  the 
lax  principles  that  may  fteal  upon  the  tender  mind  that 
is  not  early  put  on  its  guard.  Weifhaupt  undoubtedly 
thought  that  the  principles  of  civil  anarchy  would  be  ea- 
lieft  inculcated  on  minds  that  had  already  fhaken  off  the 
reftraints  of  Religion,  and  entered  into  habits  of  fenfual 
indulgence.     We  fhall  be  fafe  if  v/e  trufthis  judgment 

in  this  matter.-- ^We  fhould  be  particularly  obfervant 

of  the  character  and  principles  of  Men  of  Talents,  who 
coffer  tbemfelves  for  thefe  offices,  becaufe  their  influence 
muft  be  very  great.  Indeed  this  anxiety  fhould  extend 
to  all  offices  which  in  any  way  give  the  holders  any  re- 
markable influence  on  the  minds  of  confiderable  num- 
bers. Such  ffiould  always  be  filled  by  men  of  immacu- 
late characters  and  approved  principles  ;  and,  in  times 
like  the  prefent,  where  the  moft  effential  queftions  are 
the  fubjefts  of  frequent  difcuffion,  we  fliould  always 
conuder  with  fome  diftruft  the  men  who  are  very  cau- 
tious in  declaring  their  opinions  on  thefe  queftions. 

It  is  a  great  misfortune  undoubtedly  to  feel  ourfelves 
•in  a  frtuation  which  makes  us  damp  the  enjoyments  of 
life  with  fo  much  fufpicion.  But  the  hiftory  of  man- 
kind fhows  us  that  many  great  revolutions  have  been 
produced  by  remote  and  apparently  frivolous  caufes. 
When  things  come  to  a  height  it  is  frequently  impoffible 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         3S5 

to  find  a  cure — at  any  rate  mcdicinajcro  parsiur^  and  it 
is  much  better  to  prevent  the  difeafe — prinapiis  objia^^ 
venierJi  occurriic  morho. 

.  IX.  Nor  can  it  be  faid  that  thefe  are  vain  fears.  We 
know  that  the  enemy  is  working  araoug  us,  and  that 
there  are  many  appearances  in  thele  kingdoms  which 
ftrongly  referable  the  contrivance  of  this  dangerous  Af- 
fociation.  We  know  diat  before  the  Order  of  lllami* 
nati  was  broken  up  by  the  Elettor  of  Bavaria,  there 
were  feveral  Lodges  in  Britain,  and  we  may  be  certain 
that  they  are  not  all  broken  up.  I  kPiOvv  that  they  are 
not,  and  that  within  thefe  two  yeai's  fome  Lodges  v/ere 
rgnorantj  or  affetled  to  be  fo,  of  the  corrupted  princi- 
ples and  dangerous  defign-s  of  the  llluminati.  The  con- 
ftitution  of  the  Order  fliows  that  this  may  bo,  for  the 
X.odgcs  themfelves  were  illuminated  t?y  degrees.  But  I 
TOuft  remark  that  we  can  iiardly  fappofe  a  Lodge  to  be 
eftablifhed  in  any  place,  unlels  there  be  iome  ve;y  zeal- 
pus  Brother  at  hand  to  inftruft  and  direB  it.  And  I 
think  that  a  perfon  can  hardly  be  advanced  as  far  as  die 
rank  of  Scotch  Knight  of  the  Order,  and  he  a  iafe  man 
either  for  our  cliurch  or  (late.  I  am  very  well  infonaied 
that  there  are  feveral  thoufands  of  fubfcribing  Brethren 
in  London  alone,  and  we  can  hardly  doubt  but  that  fna- 
jiy  of  that  number  are  well  advanced.  Tiievocabularv  aJdi) 
of  the  llluminati  is  current  in  certain  facisti^s  amx^ii^  us. 
Thefe  focieties  have  taken  the  very  name  and  conl^imti- 
on  of  the  French  and  German  focieties.  CurreJpi; end- 
ing— Affiliated — Provincial — Refcript — Gonveation — • 
Reading  Societies — Citizen  of  the  World-— Liberty  and 
Equality,  the  Imprefcriptible  Right*  of  Man,  &:c.  &c. 
And  mud  it  not  be  acknowledged  that  our  ;p.ubJic  arbi- 
ters oi  literary  merit  have  greatly  changed  their  manner 
•of  treatment  of  theological  .aiid  political  wjiiings  oi  iaie 


366        THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION'. 

years  ?  Till  Paine's  Age  of  Reafon  appeared,  the  moft 
fceptical  writings  of  England  kept  within  the  bounds  of 
decency  and  of  argument,  and  we  have  not,  in  the  courfe 
of  two  centuries,  one  piece  that  fhould  be  compared 
"with  many  of  the  blackguard  productions  of  the  German 
prefl'es.  Yet  even  thofe  performances  generally  met 
Avith  fharp  reproof  as  well  as  judicious  refutation.  This- 
is  a  tribute  of  commendation  to  which  my  country  is 
moll  juftly  entitled.  In  a  former  part  of  my  life  I  was 
pretty  converfant  in  writings  of  thislcind,  and  have  feen 
almoft  every  Englifh  performance  of  note.  I  cannot 
exprefs  the  furprife  and  difguft  which  I  felt  kt  the  num- 
ber and  the  grofs  indecency  of  the  German  differtations 
•which  have  come  in  my  way  fince  I  began  this  little  hif- 
tory — and  many  of  the  titles  which  I  obferve  in  the  Leip, 
zig  catalogues  are  fuch  as  I  think  no  Britiih  writer  would 
make  ufe  of.  I  am  told  that  the  licentioufnefs  of  the 
prefs  has  been  equally  remarkable  in  France,  even  be- 
fore the  Revolution. — -May  this  fenfe  of  propriety  and 
decency  long  continue  to  protetl  us,  and  fupport  the  na- 
tional charafter  for  real  good  breeding,  as  our  attain- 
ments in  manly  fcience  have  hitherto  gained  us  the  re- 
fpe6l  of  the  furrounding  nations.  * 

I  cannot  help  thinking  that  Britifh  fentlment,  or  Bri- 
tifh  delicacy,  is  changed  ;  for  Paine's  book  is  treated  by 
moft  of  our  Reviewers  with  an  affefted  liberality  and 
candour^  and  is  laid  before  the  public  as  quite  new. 
matter,  and  a  fair  field  for  difcuffion — and  it  ftrikes  The 
as  if  our  critics  were  more  careful  to  let  no  fault  of  his 
opponents  pafs  unnoticed  than  to  expofe  the  futility  and 
rudenefs  of  this  indelicate  writer.  In  the  reviews  of  po- 
litical writings  we  fee  few  of  thofe  kind  endeavours^ 
which  real  love  for  ourconftitutional  government  would 
induce  a  writer  to  employ  in  order  to  lefi'en  the  fretft^ 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.        367 

difcontents  of  the  people  ;  and  there  is  frequently  be- 
trayed a  fatisfa£lion  at  finding  adm^iniftration  in  ftraits, 
cither  through  mifcondu6l  or  misfortune.  Real  love  for 
our  country  and  its  government  would  (I  think)  induce 
a  perfon  to  mix  with  his  criticifms  fome  fentiments  of 
fygnpathy  with  the  embaralTment  of  a  minifter  loaded  with 
the  bufinefs  of  a  great  nation,  in  a  iituation  never  before 
experienced  by  any  minifter.  The  critic  would  recoi- 
led that  the  minifter  was  a  man,  fubjeft  to  error,  but. 
not  neceflarily  nor  altogether  bafe.  But  it  feems  to  be 
an  aflumed  principle  with  fome  of  our  political  writers 
and  reviewers  that  government  muft  always  be  in  fault, 
and  that  every  thing  needs  a  reform.  Such  were  the 
beginnings  on  the  continent,  and  we  cannot  doubt  but 
that  attempts  are  made  to  influence  the  public  mind  in 
this  country,  in  the  very  way  that  has  been  pratliied 
abroad, — Nay, 

X.  The  deteftable  do6lrines  of  Illuminatifm  have 
been  openly  preached  among  us.  Has  not  Dr.  Prieftly 
faid  (I  think  in  one  of  his  letters  on  the  Birmingham 
riots)  "  That  if  the  condition  of  other  nations  be  as- 
much  improved  as  that  of  France  will  be  by  the  change 
in  her  fyftem  of  government,  the  great  crifis,  dreadful 
as  it  may  appear,  will  be  a  confummation  devoutly  to 
be  wifhed  for  ; — and  though  calamitous  to  many,  per- 
haps to  many  innocent  perfons,  will  be  eventually  glo- 
rious and  happy." — Is  not  this  equivalent  to  Spartacus 
laying,  "  True — ^there  will  be  a  ftorm,  a  convulfion — 
but  ail  will  be  calm  again  ?" — Does  Dr.  Prieftly  think 
that  the  Britifh  will  part  more  eafily  than  their  neigh- 
bours in  France  with  their  property  and  honors,  fecurcd 
by  ages  of  peaceable  pofieffion,  protected  by  law,  and 
acquiefced  in  by  all  who  wifli  and  hope  that  their  own 
defcendants  may  reap  the  fruits  of  their  honeft  induftry .? 


q68         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION^ 

—"Will  they  make  a  lefs  manly  itruojgle  ? — Are  they 
lefs  "numerous  ? — Miift  bi:s  friends,  his  patrons,  whom 
he  has  thanked,  and  praifcd,  and  flattered,  yield  up  all 
peaceably,  or  fall  in  the  general  ftruggle  ?  This  writer 
has  already  given  the  moH:  proraifmg  fpecimens  of  his 
own  docility  in  the  principles  of  lilurainatifm,  and  has 
already  paifed  through  fcveral  degrees  of  initiation.  He 
has  rcfmed  and  refined  on  Chriftianity,  and  boafts,  like 
another  Spartacus,  that  he  has,  at  laft,  hit  on  the  true 
fecret. — Has  he  not  been  preparing  the  minds  of  liis 
readers  for  Atheifm  by  his  theory  of  mind,  and  by  his 
commentary  on  the  unmeaning  jargon  of  Dr.  Hartley  ? 
I  call  it  unmeaning  jargon,  that  I  may  avoid  giving  it  a 
more  appofite  and  difgraceful  name.  For,  if  intelligence 
and  defign  be  nothing  but  a  certain  modification  of  the 
Tibratizmculce  or  undulations  of  any  kind,  what  is  fu- 
preme  intelligence,  but  a  more  extenfive,  and  (perhaps' 
they  will  call  it)  refined  undulation,  pervading  or  mix- 
ing with  all  others  ?  Indeed  it  is  in  tliis  very  manner  that 
the  univerfal  operation  of  intelligence  is  pretended  to  be 
explained.  As  any  new  or  partial  undulation  may  be 
fuperinduced  on  any  other  already  exifting,  and  this 
without  the  leaft  difturbance  or  confufion,  [o  may  the 
inferior  intelligences  in  the  univerfe  be  only  fuperinduc- 
tions  on  the  operations  of  this  fupreme  intelligence  which 
pervades  them  all. — And  thus  an  undulation  (of  what  ? 
furely  of  fomething  prior  to  and  independent  of  this  mo- 
dification) is  the  caufe  of  all  the  beings  in  the  univerfe, 
■rind  of  all  the  harmony  and  beauty  that  we  obferve. — 
And  this  undulation  is  the  obje6l  of  love,  and  gratitude, 
and  confidence  (that  is,  of  other  kinds  of  undulations.) 
Fortunately  ail  this  has  no  meaning. — But  furely,  if  any 
thing  can  tend  to  diminifh  the  force  of  our  religious  fen- 
timents,  and  make  all  Dr.  Prieflly's  diieoverie^-  in  Chriit- 
iajiity  iiilignificant,  this  will  do  it. 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         36^ 

Wer6  it  poITible  for  the  departed  foul  of  Newton  to 
.  feel  pain,  he  would  furely  recolleft  with  regret  that 
unhappy  hour,  when,  provoked  by  Dr.  Hooke's  charge 
of  plagiarifm,  he  firfl;  threw  out  his  whim  of  a  vibrating 
aether,  to  fhow  what  might  be  made  of  an  hypothefis. — 
For  Sir  Ifaac  Newton  muft  be  allowed  to  have  paved 
the  way  for  much  of  the  atomical  philofophy  of  the  mo- 
derns. Newton's  aether  is  affumed  as  sifac  totum  by  eve- 
ry precipitate  fciolift,  who  in  defpite  of  logic,  and  in 
contradiftion  to  all  the  principles  of  mechanics,  gives  us 
theories  of  mufcular  motion,  of  animal  fenfation,  and 
even  of  intelligence  and  volition,  by  the  undulations  of 
aetherial  fluids.  Not  one  of  a  hundred  of  thefe  theorifts 
can  go  through  the  fundamental  theorem  of  all  this  doc- 
trine, the  47th  prop,  of  the  2d  book  of  the  Principia, 
and  not  one  in  a  thoufand  know  that  Newton's  inveftiga- 
tion  is  inconcluhve. — Yet  they  talk  of  the  effefts  and 
modifications  of  thofe  undulations  as  familiarly  and  con- 
fidently as  if  they  could  demonftrate  the  propofitiohs  iri 
Euclid's  Elements. 

Yetfuch  is  the  reafoning  that  fatisfies  Dr.  Prieftly.  But 
I  do  not  fuppofe  that  he  has  yet  attained  his  acme  of  Il- 
lumination. His  genius  has  been  cramped  by  Britifii 
prejudices. — Thefe  need  not  fway  his  mind  any  longer. 
He  is  now  in  that  "  rard  temporis  (et  loci)  felicitate^  ubi 
fentire  quce  velis,  et  quce  fentias  dicere  licet," — in  the 
country  which  was  honored  by  giving  the  world  the  firft 
avowed  edition  of  the  Age  of  Reafon,  with  the  name  of 
the  {hop  and  publiiher.  I  make  no  doubt  but  that  his 
mind  will  now  take  a  higher  flight — and  we  may  expect 
to  fee  him  fire  "  that  train  by  which  he  boafled  that  he 
would  blow  up  the  religious  eftablifliment  of  his  {tijpid 
and  enllaved  native  country. — Peace  be  withhiro. — But 


gyo         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

^-grieve  rfiat  he  has  left  any  of  his  friends  and  abettors 
among  us.-^— A  very  eminent  one  faid  in  a  company  a  few 
days  ago,  that  "  he  would  willingly  wade  to  the  knees 
in  blood  to  overturn  the  eltabliiliment  of  the  Kirk  of 
jScotland."  I  u.nderftand  that  he  propofes  to  go  to  In- 
dia, and  there  to  preach  Chriftianity  to  the  natives.  Let 
me  befeech  him  to  recollcftthat  amon£[  us  Chriftianitv  is 
ftill  conndered  as  the  gofpel  of  peace,  and  that  it  itrong- 
}y  dilTuades  us  from  bathing  our  feet  in  ]?lood. 

I  underftand  that  more  apoftles  of  this  million  are 
avowed  enemies  of  all  religious  eltablifliments,  and  in- 
deed of  all  eflablifliments  of  any  kind.  Rut,  as  I  do 
not  fee  a  greater  chance  of  one  paftor  or  one  patriarch 
being  in  the  right,  either  as  to  religious  or  political  mat- 
ters, than  a  number  of  paflors  or  patriarchs,  who  have 
^onfulted  together,  and  compared  and  accommodated 
their  opinions ;  and  as  I  can  find  nothing  but  quarrels 
5ind  ill-will  among  independents,  I  fhould  be  forry  ta 
have  any  of  our  eilablifhments  deftroyed,  and  am  there- 
fore apprehenfive  of  fome  danger  from  the  zealous 
fpreading  of  fuch  doBrines,  efpecially  as  they  make  it 
equally  nece-^ary  to  admit  the  preaching  up  no  religion, 
and  no  civil  eftabUfnment  what-ever. 

Seeing  that  there  are  fuch  grounds  of  apprehenfion^ 
I  think  that  we  have  caufe  to  be  on  our  guard,  and  that 
every  man  who  has  enjoyed  the  fwccts  of  Britiili  liberty 
fliould  be  very  anxious  indeed  to  pveferve  it.  We 
fhould  difcourage  all  fecret  afiemblies,  which  afford  op- 
portunities to  the  difaffeded,  and  all  converfations  which 
fofter  any  notions  of  political  perfedion,  and  create 
hankerings  after  unattainable  happinefs.  Thefe  only  in- 
creafe  the  difcontents  of  the  unfortunate,  the  idle, and  the 
•^vorthlefs.^-' Above  aUj  'we  iii<Juld  be  careful  to  diicou- 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         371 

rage  and  check  immorality  and  licentioufnefs  in  ever^ 
fiiape.  For  ihis  will  of  itfelf  fubvert  every  governmen^j 
and  will  fubje6t  us  to  the  vile  tyranny  of  the  mob. 

XI.  If  there  has  ever  been  a  feafon  in  which  it  was 
proper  to  call  upon  the  public  inftruttors  of  the  nation 
to  exert  themfelves  in  the  caufe  of  Religion  and  of  Vir- 
tue, it  is  furely  the  prefent.  It  appears  from  the  tenor 
of  the  whole  narration  before  the  reader,  that  Religion 
«ind  Virtue  are  confidered  as  the  great  obflacles  to  the 
completion  of  this  plan  for  overturning  t^e  governments 
of  Europe— and  I  hope  that  I  have  made  it  evident  that 
thefe  confpirators  have  prefuppofed  that  there  is  deeply 
rooted  in  the  heart  of  man  a  fmcere  veneration  for  unfo- 
phillicated  Virtue,  and  an  affectionate  propenfity  to 
Religion  ;  that  is,  to  confider  this  "beautiful  world  as 
the  production  of  wifdom  and  power,  refiding  in  a  Being 
different  from  the  world  itfelf,  and  the  natural  object  of 
admiration  and  of  love. — I  do  fiot  fpeak  of  the  truth  of 
this  principle  at  prefent,  but  only  of  its  reality,  as  an 
impreffion  on  the  heart  of  man.  Thefe  principles  muft 
therefore  be  worked  on — and  they  are  acknovvledged  to 
be  ftrong,  becaufe  much  art  is  employed  to  eradicate 
them,  or  to  overwhelm  them  by  other  powerful  agents. 
— -V/e  alfo  fee  that  Religion  and  Virtue  are  conhdered 
by  thofe  corrupters  as  clofely  united,  and. as  mutually 
fupporting  each  other.  This  they  admit  as  a  fact,  and 
labour  to  prove  to  be  a  miftake. — And  laOly,  they  en- 
tertain no  hopes  of  complete  fuccefs  till  they  have  ex- 
ploded both. 

This  being  the  cafe,  I  hope  that  I  fhall  be  clear  of  .I'll 
charge  of  impropriety,  when  I  addrefs  our  national  irt- 
ftruBors,  and  earnertly  defire  them  to  confider  tliis 
caufe  as  peculiarly  theirs.     The  world  has  bwCn  corrupi- 


372         THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

ed  under  pretence  of  moral  inftruBion. — Backwardnefs 
therefore,  on  their  part,  may  do  inconceivable  harm, 
becaufe  it  will  moft  certainly  be  interpreted  as  an  ac- 
knowledgment of  defeat,  and  they  will  be  accufed  of  in- 
difference and  infincerity. — I  know  that  a  modefl  man 
reluctantly  comes  forward  with  any  thing  that  has  the 
appearance  of  thinking  himfelf  wifer  or  better  than  his 
neighbours.  But  if  all  are  fo  bafhful,  where  will  it  end  ? 
Muft  we  allow  a  parcel  of  worthlefs  profligates,  whom 
no  man  would  truft  with  the  management  of  the  moft 
trifling  concern,  to  pafs  with  the  ignorant  and  indolent 
for  teachers  of  true  wifdom,  and  thus  entice  the  whole 
"world  into  a  trap.  They  have  fucceeded  with  our  un- 
fortunate neighbours  on  the  continent,  and,  in  Germa- 
ny (to  their  fiiame  be  it  fpoken)  they  have  been  aflifted 
even  by  fome  faitklefs  clergymen. 

But  I  will  hope  better  of  my  countrymen,  and  I  think 
that  our  clergy  have  encouragement  even  from  the  na- 
tive character  of  Britons.  National  comparifons  are  in- 
deed ungraceful,  and  are  rarely  candid — but  I  think  they 
may  be  indulged  in  this  inftance.  It  is  of  his  own  coun- 
trymen that  Voltaire  fpeaks,  when  he  fays,  "  that  they 
refemble  a  mixed  breed  of  the  monkey  and  the  tiger," 
animals  that  mix  fun  with  mifchief,  and  that   fport  with 

the  torments  of  their  prey. They  have  indeed  given 

the  moft  fliocking  proofs  of  the  juftnefs  of  his  portrait. 
It  is  with  a  confiderable  degree  of  national  pride,  there- 
fore, that  I  compare  the  behaviour  of  the  French  with 
that  of  the  Britifli  in  a  very  fimilar  fituation,  during  the 
civil  wars  and  the  ufurpation  of  CromM'ell.  There  have 
-been  more  numerous,  and  infinitely  more  atrocious, 
crimes  committed  in  France  diiring  any  one  half  year 
fmce  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution,  than  during  the 
whole  of  that  tumultuous  period*     And  it  faould  here- 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.       .373 

membered,  that  to  all  other  grounds  of  difcontent  was 
added  no  fmall  fjiare  of  religious  fanaticifm,  a  pafiioii 
(may  I  call   it)  which  feldom  fails  to   roufe  ev^ry  an^ry 

thought  of  the  heart. Much  may  be  hoped  for  from 

an  earneft  and  judicious  addrefs  to  that  rich  fund  of 
manly  kindnefs  that  is  confpicuous  in  theBritiih  charac- 
ter— a  fund  to  which  I  am  perfuaded  we  owe  the  excel- 
lence of  our  conltitutional  government — No  where  elfe 
•in  Europe  are  the  claims  of  the  different  ranks  in  fociety 
fo  generally  and  fo  candidly  admitted.  All  feel  their 
force,  and  all  allow  them  to  others.  Hence  it  happens 
that  they  are  enjoyed  in  fo  much  peace — hence  k  hap- 
pens that  the  gentry  live  among  the  yeomen  and  farmers 
with  fo  eafy  and  familiar  a  fuperiority  : 

Extrema  per  illos 


Jujllt'ia  excedens  terns  vejligia  fdcli. 

Our  clergy  are  alfo  well  prepared  for  the  taflc.     For 
our  anceftors  differed  exceedingly  from  the  prefent  Illu- 
minators  in   their   notions,  and  have   eiwcted   that  the 
-clergy  fliall  be   well   inftrufted   in  natural  philofop'ny, 
judging  that  a  knowledge  of  the  fymmetry  of  nature,  and 
■  the    beautiful   adjuftment  of  all  her  operations,  would 
.  produce  a  firm  belief  of  a   wifdom  and  power  which  is 
the  fourcG  of  all   this   fair  order,  the   Author  and  Con- 
•  du6lor  of  all,  and  therefore  the  natural  objecl  of  admi- 
ration and  of  love.     A  good  heart  is  open  to  this  impref- 

-  fion,  and   feels  no   reluctance,  but   on  the   contrary  a 

-  pleafure,  in  thinking  man  the  fubje8:  of  his  goverment, 
and  the  objecl  of  his  care.  This  point  being  «nce  gain- 
ed, 1  fliould  think  that  the  falutary  truths  of  Religion 
will  be  highly  welcome.     I   fhould  think    that  it  will  be 

.  eafy  to  convince  fuch  minds,  that  in  the  midft  of  the 
iinmenfe  variety  of  the  works  of  God,  there  is  one 
great  plan  to  which  every  thing  feems  to  refer,   namely, 


374         '^HE  FPvENCH  REVOLUTION. 

the  crouding  this  world,  to  the  utmofl;  degree  of  poffr- 
bility,  with  life,  with  beings  that  enjoy  the  things  around 
them,  each  in  its  own  degree  and  manner.  Among 
thefe,  man  makes  a  moft  confpicuous  figure,  and  the 
maximum  of  his  enjoyments  feems  a  capital  article  in  the 
■ways  of  Providence. — It  will,  I  think,  require  little 
trouble  to  fliew  that  the  natural  diftates  of  Religion,  or 
the  immediate  refults  of  the  belief  of  God's  moral  go- 
vernment of  the  univerfe,  coincide,  in  every  circum- 
ftance  of  fentiment,  difpofition,  and  condud,  with  thofe 
that  are  moft  produ6live  of  enjoyment  (on  the  whole)  in 
focial  hfe.  The  fame  train  of  thought  will  Ihew,  that 
the  real  improvements  in  the  pleafures  of  fociety,  are,  in 
fact,  improvements  of  man's  rational  nature,  and  fo  ma- 
ny fteps  toward  thatperfeftion  which  our  ownconfciences 
tell  us  we  are  capable  of,  and  which  Religion  encoura- 
ges us  to  hope  for  in  another  ftate  of  being.  And  thus 
will  "  the  ways  of  Wifdom  appear  to  be  ways  of  plea- 
fantnefs,  and  all  her  paths  to  be  peace." 

Dwelling  on  fuch  topics,  there  is  no  occafion  for  any 
political  difculnon.  This  would  be  equally  improper 
and  hurtful.  Such  difcuffions  never  fail  to  produce  ill- 
humour. — But  (urely  the  highell  "complacence  muft  re- 
fult  from  the  thought  that  we  are  co-operating  with  ibe 
Author  of  all  wifdom  and  goodnefs,  and  helping  forward 
the  favorite  plans  of  his  providence.  Such  a  thought 
muil  elevate  the  mind  which  thus  recognifes  a  fort  of  al- 
liance with  the  Author  of  nature. — Our  brethren  in  fo- 
ciety appear  brethren  indeed,  heirs  of  the  fame  hopes, 
and  travelling  to  the  fame  country.  This  will  be  a 
fort  of  moral  patriotifm,  and  ihould,  I  think,  produce 
mutual  forbearance,  fince  we  difcover  imperfettions  in 
all  creatures,  and  are  confcious  of  them  in  ourfelves— - 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.         375 

notwithftanding  which,  we  hope  to  be  ail  equal  at  hfl;  in 
worth  and  in  happinefs. 

I  fhould  gladly  hope  that  I  fiiall  not  be  accufed  of 
prefumption  in  this  addrefs.  There  is  no  profcffion 
that  I  more  fincerely  refpecl  than  that  of  the  religious 
and  moral  inftruBor  of  my  country.  I  am  faying  no- 
.thing  here  that  I  am  not  accuftomed  to  urge  at  much 
greater  length  in  the  courfe  of  myprofeffional  duty. 
And  I  do  not  think  that  I  am  juftly  chargeable  with  va- 
nity, when  I  fuppofe  that  many  years  of  delightful  iludy 
of  the  works  of  God,  have  given  me  fomewhat  more  ac- 
quaintance with  them,  than  is  probably  attained  by  thofe 
who  never  think  of  the  matter,  being  continually  engag- 
ed in  the  buftle  of  life.  Should  one  of  this  defcriptioii 
•fay  that  all  is  fate  or  chance,  and  that  "  the  fame  thing 
happens  to  all,"  &c.  as  is  but  too  common,  I  fiiould 
think  that  a  prudent  man  will  give  fo  much  preference  to 
my  affertion,  as  at  leail  to  think  ferioufly  about  the  thing, 
before  he  allow  himfelf  any  indulgence  in  things  which  I 
affirm  to  be  highly  dangerous  to  his  future  peace  and  hap- 
pinefs. For  this  reafon  I  hope  not  to  be  accufed  of  going 
out  of  my  line,  nor  hear  any  one  fay,  "  Ne  jutor  ultra 
trepidam.''  The  prefent  is  a  feafon  of  anxiety,  and  it  is 
the  duty  of  every  man  to  contribute  his  mite  to  the  ge- 
neral good. 

It  is  in  fome  fuch  hopes  that  I  have  written  thefe  pa- 
ges J  and  if  they  have  any  fuchefiPefl,  I  ilmll  think  my- 
felf  fortunate  in  having  by  chance  hit  on  fomethjng  ufe- 
ful,  when  I  was  only  trying  to  amufe  myfeif  dj^xing  the 
tedious  hours  of  bad  health  and  confinement.  No  per- 
fon  is  more  fenhbie  of  the  many  imperfections  of  this 
performance  than  royfelf.  But,  as  I  have  no  raotiv^e 
for  Uie  publication  but  the  hopes  of  doing  fome  good,  I 


376        THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

truft  that  I  fliall  obtain  a  favorable  acceptance  of  my  en- 
deavours from  an  intelligent,  a  candid,  and  a  good-na- 
tured public.  I  muft  entreat  that  it  be  remembered  that 
thefe  fheets  are  not  the  work  of  an  author  determined  to 
vrite  a  book.  They  were  for  the  moft  part  notes,  which 
I  took  from  books  I  had  borrowed,  that  I  might  occa- 
fionally  have  recourfe  to  them  when  occupied  with  Free 
Mafonry,  the  firft  objeft  of  my  curiofity.  My  curio- 
f]ty  was  diverted  to  many  other  things  as  I  went  along, 
and  v.hen  the  Illuminati  came  in  my  way,  I  regretted 
the  time  I  had  thrown  away  on  Free  Mafonry. — But, 
obferving  their  connexion,  I  thought  that  I  perceived 
the  progrefs  of  one  and  the  fame  defign.  This  made  me 
eager  to  find  out  any  remains  of  Weifhaupt's  AfTocia- 
tion.  I  was  not  furprifed  when  I  faw  marks  of  its  in- 
terference in  the  French  Revolution. — In  hunting  for 
clearer  proofs  I  found  out  the  German  Union — and,  in 
fine,  the  whole  appeared  to  be  one  great  and  wicked  pro- 
jetl,  fermenting  and  working  over  all  Europe. — Some 
highly  refpefted  friends  encouraged  me  in  the  hope  of 
doing  fome  fervice  by  laying  my  informations  before  the 
public,  and  faid  that  no  time  fhould  be  loft. — I  there- 
fore fet  about  colleBing  my  fcattered  fa6ls. — I  under- 
took this  taflv  at  a  time  when  my  official  duty  prelTed 
hard  on  me,  and  bad  health  made  me  very  unfit  for  ftu- 
dy. — The  eflefls  of  this  muft  appear  in  many  faults, 
which  I  fee,  without  being  able  at  prefent  to  amend 
them.  I  owe  this  apology  to  the  public,  and  I  truft 
that  my  good  intentions  will  procure  it  acceptance.* 

*  While  the  fneet  commencing  p.  354  was  printing  ofF,  I  got  a 
fight  o£a  work  publifhed  in  Paris  laft  year,  entitled  La  Ccnjuration 
d'  Orleans.  It  confinns  all  that  I  have  faid  refpeding  the  ufe  made 
of  the  Free  Mafon  Lodges. — It  gives  a  particular  account  of  the 
formation  of  the  Jacobin  Club,  by  the  Club  Breton.  This  laft  ap- 
pears to  have  been  the  Aflbciation  formed  with  the  afllftance  of  the 


THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.        377 

TTothing  would  give  me  more  fincere  pleafure  than  to 
fee  the  whole  proved  to  be  a  miltake  ; — ^to  be  convinced 
that  there  is  no  fuch  plot,  and  that  we  run  no  rifk  of  the 
contagion ;  but  that  Britain  will  continue,  by  the  abid- 
ing prevalence  of  honor,  of  virtue,  and  of  true  religion, 
to  exhibit  the  faireft  fpecimen  of  civil  government  that 
ever  was  feen  on  earth,  and  a  national  chara6ler  and  con- 
German  Deputies.  The  Jacobin  Club  had  feveral  committees,  fi- 
milar  to  thole  of  the  National  AfTembly.  Among  others,  it  had  a 
Committee  of  Enquiry  and  Correfpondence,  whofe  bufmefs  itwAs 
to  gain  partizans,  to  difcover  enemies,  to  decide  on  the  merits  of 
the  Brethren,  and  to  form  fimilar  Clubs  in  other  places. 

The  author  of  the  above-mentioned  work  writes  as  follows'  (vol. 
3.  p.  19.)  We  may  judge  of  what  the  D.  of  Orleans  could  do  in 
other  places,  by  what  he  did  during  his  ftay  in  England.  During 
his  flay  in  London,  he  gained  over  to  his  intereft  Lord  Stanhopa 
and  Dr.  Price,  two  of  the  ihofl:  refpedtable  members  of  the  Revotu- 
tlon  Society.  This  Society  had  no  other  objeft  (it  faid)  but  to  fup- 
port  the  Revolution,  •  which  had  driven  James  II.  from  the  throne 
of  his  anceftors. 

Orleans  made  of  this  aflbciation  a  true  Jacobin  Club — It  enter- 
ed into  correfpondence  with  tlie  Committee  of  Enquiry  of  our  Com- 
mune, with  the  fame  Committee  of  our  Jacobin  Club,  and  at  laft 
with  our  National  Alfembly.  It  even  fent  to  the  Aflembly  an  of- 
tenfible  letter,  in  which  we  may  fee  the  foiiowing  pafTages  : 

*'  The  Society  congratulates  the  National  Aflembly  of  France 
on  the  Revolution  which  has  taken  place  in  that  country.  It  can. 
not  but  earneftly  wifh  for  the  happy  conclufion  of  fo  imporcaat  a 
Revolution,  and,  at  the  fame  time,  exprefs  the  extreme  fadsfai-^ion 
which  it  feels  in  refledling  on  the  glorious  example  ■'vhich  France 
has  given  to  the  world."  (The  Reader  will  remark,  that  in  this 
example  are  contained  all  the  horrors  which  had  been  exhibited  in, 
France  before  the  month  of  March  1790;  and  that  before  this 
time,  the  conduft  of  the  D.  of  Orleans  on  the  5th  and  6th  of  Odo- 
ber  1789,  vvith  allthe  Hiocking  atrocities  of  thofedays,  were  fully 
known  in  England.) 

Z  z 


378       THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

du6l  not  unworthy  of  the  ineftimable  blelTings  that  we 
enjoy.  Our  excellent  Sovereign,  at  his  acceflion  to 
the  throne,  declared  to  his  Parliament  that  he  gloried 

IN    HAVING  BEEN    BORN    aBriTON. Would  tO  God 

that  all  and  each  of  his  fubjeBs  had  entertained  the  fame 
lofty  notions  of  this  good  fortune.  Then  would  they 
have  laboured,  as  he  has  done  for  near  forty  years,  to 
fupport  the  honor  of  the  Britifh  name  by  fetting  as 
bright  an  example  of  domeftic  and  of  public  virtue. — 
Then  would  Britons  have  been  indeed  the  boaft  of  hu- 
manity— then  we  fhould  have  viewed  thefe  wicked  plots 
of  our  neighbours  with  a  fmile  of  contempt,  and  of  fm- 
cere  pity — and  there  would  have  beeri  no  need  of  this 
•  imperfeO;  but  well-meant  performance. 

-      «  The  Society  refolves  unanlmoufly  to  invite  all  the  people  of 

.  England  to  eftabllfti  Societies  through  the  kingdom,  to  fupport  the 

principles  of  the  Revolution  (look  back  to  p.  315.  of  this  work)  «  to 

form  correfpondences    between  themfelves,  and  by  thefe  means  to 

eftablifli  a  great  concerted  Union  of  all  the  true  Friends  of  Liberty." 

Accordingly  (fays  the  French  audior)  this  was  executed,  and 
Jacobin  Clubs  were  eftablifhed  in  feveral  cities  of  England,  Scot- 
land, and  Ireland. 


Pojlfcript, 


ALTHOUGH  I  faw  no  reafon  to  doubt  oFthe  vafi- 
lidity  of  the  proofs  which  I  have  offered  in  the  pre- 
ceding pages,  of  a  confpiracy  againft  the  deareft  interefts 
of  every  nation  of  Europe,  nor  of  the  importance  of  the 
information  to  my  own  countrymen,  it  gives  me  great 
fatisfadion  to  learn  that  it  has  been  received  with  favor 
and  indulgence.  This  I  may  conclude  from  the  impref- 
fion's  being  exhauded  in  a  few  days,  and  becaufe  the 
publifher  informs  me  that  another  edition  is  wanted  im- 
mediately. I  could  have  wifhed  that  this  were  defer- 
red for  fome  time,  that  I  might  have  availed  myfelf  of 
the  obfervations  of  others,  and  be  enabled  to  correal  the 
miftakes  into  which  I  have  been  led  by  my  fcanty  know- 
ledge of  the  German  language,  and  the  miftakes  of  the 
writers  from  whom  I  derived  all  my  informations.  I 
Ihould,  in  that  cafe,  have  attempted  to  make  the  work 
more  worthy  of  the  public  eye,  by  corretling  many  im- 
perfections, which  the  continual  diftratlion  of  bad  health, 
and' my  hafte  to  bring  it  before  the  public,  have  occafi- 
Gned.  I  fliould  have  made  the  difpofition  more  natural 
and  perfpicuous,  and  have  lopped  off  fome  redundances 
and  repetitions.  But  the  printer  tells  me,  that  this  would 
greatly  retard  the  publication,  by  changing  the  feries  of 
the  pages.  At  any  rate,  I  am  not  at  prefent  in  a  condi- 
tion to  engage  in  any  work  that  requires  difpatch.  I 
muft  yield  therefore  to  thofe  rcafons,  and  content  myfelf 
ivith  fuch  correiB-ions  as  can  be  made  immediately. 


^8o  POSTSCRIPT. 

I  have  found,  after  minute  enquiry,  that  I  was  mifta- 
ken  as  to  the  expreffion  of  an  eminent  follower  of  Dr. 
Prieftly,  mentioned  before.  The  perfon  alluded  to  dif- 
claims  all  fanguinary  proceedings,  and  my  information 
arofe  from  a  very  erroneous  account  which  was  circula- 
ted of  the  converfation.  But  I  Hill  thiak  the  caution 
equally  neceffary,  which  I  recommended  to  the  hearers 
of  the  frequent  and  violent  declamations  made  by  thofe 
alluded  to,  againft  all  religious  eltablifliments. 

Except  the  anecdote  of  Diderot's  library,  I  do  not 
recoiled  another  afTertion  in  the  book,  for  which  I  have 
not  the  authority  of  printed  evidence.  This  ftory  was 
told  me  by  fo  many  perfons  of  credit,  who  were  on  the 
fpot  at  the  time,  that  I  have  no  doubt  of  its  truth. 

:  I  alfo  find  that  I  was  miftaken  in  my  conje6lure  that 
Mr.  Le  Franc  communicated  his  fafpicions  of  the  horrid 
defigns  of  the  Free  Mafons  to  x^-rchbifhop  Gobet.  It 
inuft  have  been  to  Mr.  Le  Clerc  de  Juigne^  a  moft  wor- 
thy prelate,  whom  the  hatred  of  the  Jacobins  obliged  to 
ily  into  Switzerland.  The  Catholic  clergy  were  butch- 
ered or  banifhed,  and  the  Jacobins  fubRituted  in  their 
places  fuch  as  would  fecond  their  views.  Gobet  was 
worthy  of  their  confidence,  and  the  Archbijliop  of  Thou- 
loufe  (Brienne)  himfelf  could  not  have  fervcd  the  caui'e  of 
the  philofophifts  more  effe6tually,  had  they  fucceeded  in 
their  attempts  to  get  him  continued  Archbifiiop  of  Paris. 

As  the  poetical  piBure  of  unqualified  Liberty  and 
Equality,  and  the  indolent  pleafures  of  the  patriarchal 
life,  are  the  charm  by  which  the  Illuminators  hope  jo 
fafcinate  all  hearts,  and  as  they  reprobate  every  con- 
ftruction  of  fociety  which  tolerates  any  permanent  lu- 
bordination,  and  particularly  fuch  as  found  this  fubor- 
dinatibn  on  diftintlions  of  ranks,  and  fcout  all  privile- 
.  ges  allowed  to  particular  orders  of  men,  I  hope  that  it 
will  not  be  thought  foreign  to  the  general  purpofe  of  the 
foregoing  Work,  if,  I  with  great  deference,  lay  before 
the  Rpader  fome  of  my  reafons  for  afferting,  without 
befitatioij,  in  a  former  part,  that  the  Britifh  conilituiioii 


POSTSCRIPT.  381 

i's  the  only  one  tliat  will  give  permanent  happinefs  to  a 
great  and  luxurious  nation,  and  is  peculiarly  calculated 
to  give  full  exercile  to  the  bed  propeitiities  of  cultivat- 
ed minds.  I  am  the  more  deiirous  of  doing  this,  bc- 
caufe  it  feems  tome  that  moil  of  the  political  writers  on 
the  Continent,  and  many  of  my  countrymen,  have  not 
attended  to  important  circumilances  which  diitingiiifh 
our  conftitution  from  the  States  General  oF  France  and 
other  countries.  The  republicans  in  France  have,  fince 
tthe  Revolution,  employed  the  pains  in  fearching  their 
records,  which  ought  to  have  been  taken  before  the  con- 
vocation of  the  States,  -and  which  would  probablv  have 
prevented  that  ftep  altogether.  They  have  (hewn  that 
the  meetings  of  the  States,  if  we  except  that  in  1614  and 
1483,  were  uniformly  occafions  of  mutual  contefL^  be- 
tween the  different  Orders,  in  which  the  interefts  of  the 
nation  and  the  authority  of  the  Crown  were  equally  for- 
gotten, and  the  kingdom  was  plunged  into  all  the  hor- 
rors of  a  rancorous  civil  war.  Of  this  they  give  us  d. 
remarkable  inftance  during  the  captivity  of  King  John 
in  1355  and  1356,  the  horrors  of  which  were  hardly  ex- 
ceeded by  any  thing  that  has  happened  in  our  days. 
They  have  fliewn  the  fame  diiraal  confequences  of  the 
affembly  of  the  different  Orders  in  Brabant;  and  ftill 
more  remarkably  in  Sweden  and  Denmark,  where  they 
have  frequently  produced  a  revolution  and  change  of 
government,  all  of  which  have  terminated  in  the  abfo'ute 
government,  either  of  the  Crown,  or  of  one  of  the  con- 
tending Orders.  They  laugh  at  the  iimplicity  of  the 
Britifh  for  expefting  that  the  permanent  fruits  of  053^ 
conftitution,  which  is  founded  on  the  fame  jarring  prin- 
ciples, fhall  be  any  better  i  and  affert,  that  the  peacea- 
ble exercife  of  its  fcvcral  powers  for  fonxewhat  iXiCve 
than  a  century  (a  thing  never  experienced  by  ur,  in  for- 
mer times)  has  proceeded  from  circamilances  merely 
accidental.  With  much  addrefs  they  have  ielefcled  the 
former  difturbance?,  and  have  connecled  them  by  a  for; 
of  principle,  i'o  as  to  fupport  their  fyfteiu,  '-  ihst  2 
States  General  or  Parliament,  coniifting  of  a  repretsn- 
tation  of  the  different  clafib.s  of  citizens,  can  nt^ver  deJi- 
•berate  for   the    geiveral  good,  but  muft.  always   occupy 


383  POSTSCRIPT. 

their  time  in  contentions  about  their  mutual  invafions 
of  privilege,  and  will  faddle  every  aid  to  the  executive 
power,  with  fome  unjuft  and  ruinous  ago;randifement  of 
the  victorious  Order."  They  have  the  effrontery  to  give 
the  Magna  Charta  as  an  inftance  of  an  ufurpation  of 
the  great  feudatories,  and  have  reprefented  it  in  fuch  a 
light  as  to  make  it  the  game  of  their  writers  and  of  the 
tribunes. — All  this  they  have  done  in  order  to  reconcile 
the  minds  of  the  few  thinking  men  of  the  nation  to  the 
abolition  of  the  different  Orders  of  the  State,  and  to  their 
National  Convention  in  the  form  of  a  chaotic  mafs  of 
Frenchmen,  one  and  indivifible  : 

Non  bene  junSarum  difcordta  feniina  rerutriy 
Uhi frigida puegnabatit  ealidisy  hument'iaficctSy 
Mollia  cum  duris^  Jlae pondere  habent'iapondus. 

Their  reafonings  would  be  juft,  and  their  proofs  from 
hiftory  would  be  convincing,  if  their  premifes  were  true; 
if  the  Britifli  Parliament  were  really  an  affembly  of  three 
Orders,  either  perfonally,  or  by  reprefentation,  delibe- 
rating apart,  each  having  a  veto  on  the  decifions  of  the 
other  two.  And  I  apprehend  that  moft  of  my  country- 
men, who  have  not  had  occafion  to  canvafs  the  fubjeQ; 
with  much  attention,  fuppofe  this  to  be  really  the  Bri- 
tifn  Coiillitution  :  for,  in  the  ordinary  table  converfa- 
tions  on  the  fubjeft,  they  feldom  go  farther,  and  talk 
with  great  complacence  of  the  balance  of  hoftile  powers, 
of  the  King  as  the  umpire  of  differences,  and  of  the  peace 
and  prolperity  that  refults  from  the  whole. 

But  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  this  is  a  mifconcepti- 
on,  almoft  in  every  circumftance.  I  do  not  know  any 
oppolite  interefts  in  the  State,  except  the  general  one  of 
the  governor  and  the  governed,  the  king  and  the  fub- 
je6l. — If  there  is  an  umpire  in  our  conilitution,  it  is  the 
houfe  of  Lords — but  this  is  not  as  a  reprefentation  of 
the  peri'ons  of  birth,  but  as  a  court  of  hereditary  magif- 
t rates  :  the  Peers  do  not  meet  to  defend  their  own  privi- 
leges as  citizens,  but  either  as  the  counfellors  of  the 
King,  or  as  judges  in  the  laft  refon.     The  privileges  for 


POSTSCRIPT.  383 

which  we  fee  them  fometimes  contend,  are  not  the  pri- 
vileges of  the  high-born,  of  the  great  valfals  of  the 
Crown,  but  the  privileges  of  the  Houfe  of  Lords,  of 
the  fupreme  Court  of  Judicature,  or  of  the  King's 
Council.  In  all  the  nations  on  the  Continent,  the  dif- 
ferent Orders,  as  they  are  called,  of  t^ie  State,  are  cor- 
porations, bodies  politic,  which  have  jurifdi8;ion  within 
thcmfelves,  and  rights  which  they  can  maintain  at  their 
own  hand,  and  privileges  which  mark  them  mod  diftinft- 
ly,  and  produce  fuch  a  complete  feparation  between  the 
different  Orders,  that  they  can  no  more  mix  than  oil 
and  water.  Yet  the  great  preiident  Montcfquieu  fays, 
that  the  Peerage  of  England  is  a  body  of  Nobility  ;  and 
he  ufes  the  term  body  in  the  ftricl  fenfe  now  mentioned^ 
as  fynonomous  to  corporation.  He  has  repeatedly  ufed 
this  term  to  denote  the  fecond  order  of  Frenchmen,  per- 
fons  of  noble  birth,  or  ennobled  (that  is,  veiled  in  the 
privileges  and  diitin£lions  of  the  nobly  born)  united  by 
law,  and  having  authority  to  maintain  their  privileges. 
The  hiftory  of  France,  nay  of  our  own  country,  (hows 
us  that  this  body  may  enjoy  all  its  diftinBions  of  nobi- 
lity, and  that  the  Great  Barons  may  enjoy  the  preroga- 
tives of  their  baronies,  although  the  authority  of  the 
Crown  is  ahnoft  annihilated. — We  have  no  cogenj;  rea- 
fon,  therefore,  for  thinking  that  they  will  be  conftantly 
careful  to  fupport  the  authority  of^the  Crown  ;  and  much 
lefs  to  believe  that  they  will,  at  the  fame  time,  watch 
over  the  liberties  of  the  people.  In  the  eiefction  af  their 
reprefentatives  (for  the  whole  body  of  the  gentlemen 
mull  appear  by  reprefentation)  we  mufl  not  expetl  that 
they  will  I'elecl  fuch  of  their  own  number  as  will  take 
care  of  thofe  two  eOenti?.!  ^bjefts  of  our  conltitution. — 
Equally  jealous  of  the  authority  of  the  Crown  and  of  the 
encroach inents  of  all  Lhofe  who  are  not  gentlemen,  Iknd 
even  fearful  of  the  alTampu.jns  of  the  great  Barons,  the 
powerful  individuals  of  their  own  order,  they  will  always 
choofe  fuch  reprefentatives  as  will  defend  their  own 
rights  in  the  firll  place.  Such  perfons  are  by  no  means 
fix  for  maintainmg  the  proper  authority  of  the  Crown, 
and  keeping  the  reprefentatives  of  the  lower  claHes  with- 
in proper  boundi. 


384  POSTSCRIPT., 

But  this  is  not  the  nature  af  our  HoU'Te  of  Lords  in 
the  prefent  day.  It  was  lo  formerly  in  a  great  raearure., 
and  had  the  Ikme  effctU  as  in  other  countries.  Eut 
iince  the  Rcvohition,  the  Peers  of^Gre^t  Britain  have.no 
important  privileges  which  relate  merely  or  chiefly  to 
birth.  Thefe  all  refer  to  their  fun6lions  as  Magillrates 
of  the  fupreme  Court.  The  King  can,  at  anytime,  place 
in  this  Houfe  any  eminent  perfon  whom  he  thinks  wor,- 
tby  of  the  ofhce  of  hereditary  magiftrate.  The  Peer* 
are  noble — that  is,  remarkable,  ilhiftrious  ;  hut  are  not 
neceifarily,  nor  in  every  inftance,  perfons  of  high  birth. 
This  Houfe  therefore  is  not,  in  any  fort,  the  reprefenta. 
live  of  what  is  called  in  France  the  NobleiTe — a  particu- 
lar caft  of  the  nation;— nor  is  it  a  jun5lion  of  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  great  fees  of  the  Crown,  as  fuch  ; — for  many, 
very  many,  of  the  grcateil  baronies  are  in  the  hands  of 
thole  we  call  Commoners. — They  ht  a^the  King's. Coun- 
celiors,  or  as. judges. — Therefore  the  members  of  ou,r 
Upper  Koufe  are  not  fwayed  by  the  prejudices  of  any 
clafs  of  the  citizens.  They  are  hereditary  magillrates, 
created  by  the  Sovereign,  for  his  council,  to  defend  hjs 
prerogatives,  to  hold  the  balance  between  the  throne  and 
the  people.  The  grcaleit  part  of  the  Nobility  (in  tHe 
continental  fenfe  of  the  word)  are  not  called  into  this 
Houfe,  but  they  may  be  members  of  the  Lower  Houfe, 
which  we  call  the  Commons  ;  nay  the  fons  and  the  brp- 
ihers  of  die  Peers  are  in  the  fame  fituation.  The  Peers 
therefore  caimot  be  hoftile  or  indifferent  to  the  liberty, 
the  rights,  or  the  happinefs  of  the  Commons,  without 
being  the  enemies  of  their  o-wn  families. 

Nor  is  our  Houfe  of  Commons  at  all  fimilar  to  the 
Third  EJiatc  of  any  of  the  neighbouring  kingdoms. 
Thev  are  not  the  reprefentatives  of  the  ionobiv  born,  or 
of  any  clafs  of  citizens.  The  members  are  the  proper 
reprefentatives  of  the  whole  nation,  and^confift  of  per- 
fons of  every  clafs,  perfons  of  the  highcft  birth,,  peribns 
of  great  fortune,  perfons  of  educationj  of  knowledge,  of 
talents. 


POSTSCRIPT.  385 

Thus  the  caufes  of  dififenfiori  which  refer  to  the  dif- 
tinclive  rights  or  prerogatives  of  the  different  clafies  of 
citizens  are  removed,  becaufe  in  each  Houfe  there  are 
many  individuals  feleQed  from  all  the  claffes, 

A  Peer,  having  attained  the  higheft  honors  of  the 
flate,  muft  be  an  enemy  to  every  revolution.  Revolu- 
tion mufl;  certainly  degrade  him,  whether  it  places  an  sh-^ 
folute  monarch,  or  a  democratic  junto,  on  the  throne. 

The  Sovereign  naturally  looks  for  tlie  fupport  of  the 
Upper  Houfe,  and  in  every  meafure  agreeable  to  the 
conftitution,  and  to  the  piiblic  weal,  exerts  his  influence 
on  the  Houfe  of  Commons.  Here  the  characler  of  the 
monarch  and  his  choice  of  minifters  muft  appear,  as  in 
any  other  conftitution  ;  but  v/ith  much  lefs  chance  of 
danger  to  political  liberty. — The  great  engine  of  mo- 
narchy in  Europe,  has  been  the  jarring  privileges  of  the 
different  Orders  ;  and  the  Sovereign,  by  fiding  with  one 
of  them,  obtained  accefTions  of  prerogative  and  power. — • 
It  was  thus  that,  under  the  Houfe  of  Tudor,  our  con- 
ftitution advanced  with  hafty  flrides  to  abfolute  raonar^ 
chy  ;  and  would  have  attained  it,  had  James  the  Firft 
been  as  able  as  he  was  willing  to  fecure  what  he  firmly 
believed  to  be  the  divine  rights  of  his  Crown. 

.  I  do  not  recoiled  hearing  the  lower  ranks  of  the  State 
venting  much  of  their  difcoutents  againil  the  Peers,  and 
they  feem  to  perceive  pretty  clearly  the  advantages  arif- 
ing  from  their  prerogatives.  They  feem  to  look  up  to 
them  as  the  firft  who  will  ,prote6l  them  againft  the  agents 
of  fovereignty.  They  know  that  a  man  may  rife  from 
the  lowefl  flation  to  the  peerage,  and  that  in  that  exalta- 
tion he  remains  conne6led  with  themfelves  by  the  dearefl 
ties  ;  and  the  Houfe  of  Commons  take  no  offence  at 
the  creation  of  new  Peers,  becaufe  their  privileges  as  a 
Courts  and  their  private  rights,  are  not  affefted  by  it* 
Accordingly,  the  Houfe  has  always  oppofed  every  pro- 
jeB:  of  limiting  the  King's  prerogative  in  this  refpecl, 

3  A 


06  POSTSCRIPT. 

How  unlike  is  all  this  to  the  conftitution  confifting  of 
the  pure  reprefentatives  of  the  Privileged  Orders  of  the 
Gontinental  States.  The  felf-conceited  conftitutional- 
ilts  oi  France  faw  fomething  in  the  Britifli  Parliament 
which  did  not  fall  in  with  their  own  hajly  notions,  and 
prided  themfelves  in  not  copying  from  us.  This  would 
have  indicated  great  poverty  of  invention  in  a  nation  ac- 
euftomed  to  conhder  itfelf  as  the  teacher  of  mankind. 
The  moft  fenfible  of  them,  however,  wifhed  to  have  a 
conftitution  which  they  called  an  improvement  of  ours  : 
and  this  was  the  fimple  plan  of  a  reprejentation  of  the  two 
or  three  Orders  of  the  State.  Their  Upper  Houfe 
fhould  contain  the  reprefentatives  of  ioo,coo  noblefie. 
The  Princes  of  the  Blood  and  Great  Barons  fhould  fit 
in  it  of  their  own  right,  and  the  reft  by  deputies.  The 
Lower  Houfe,  or  Tiers  Etat,  fliould  confift  of  deputies 
from  thofe  ignobly  born  ;  fuch  as  merchants,  perfons  in 
the  lower  offices  of  the  law,  artifans,  peafants,  and  a 
fmall  number  of  freeholders.  Surely  it  needs  no  deep 
refledion  to  teach  us  what  fort  of  deliberations  would 
occupy  fuch  a  houfe.  It  would  be  a  moft  ufefal  occu- 
pation however,  to  perufe  the  hiftory  of  France,  and  of 
other  nations,  and  lee  what  really  did  ocatpy  the  Tiers 
Etat  thus  conftrutted,  and  what  were  their  proceedings, 
their  decihons,  and  the  fteps  which  they  took  to  make 
them  effectual.  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  this  ftudy 
would  cure  moft  of  our  advocates  for  general  eligibility, 
and  for  general  fuffrage.  I  have  lately  read  Velley  and 
Villaret  s  Hiftory  of  France  (by  the  bye,  the  Abbe  Bar- 
ruel  has  fhev\^n  that  the  Club  d'Holbach  managed  the  pub- 
lication of  this  Hiftory  after  the  firft  eight  or  ten  vo- 
lumes, and  flipped  into  it  many  things  fuited  to  their  im- 
pious projeft)  and  the  accounts  of  the  troublefome  reigns 
of  John,  and  Charles  his  fucceflbr,  by  authors  who 
wrote  long  before  the  Revolution ;  and  they  filled  me 
with  horror.  The  only  inftance  that  I  met  with  of  any 
thing  like  moderation  in  the  claims  and  difputes  of  the 
different  Orders  of  their  States  General,  and  of  patriot- 
ifm,^  or  regard  for  the  general  interefts  of  the  State,  is  in 
their  meetings  during  the  minority  of  Charles  VIII, 


POSTSCRIPT.  2h, 

With  refpe6i.  to  the  limitations  of  the  eligibility  fnto 
ihe  Houfe  oF  Commons,  I  thmk  that  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  thofe  fliould  be  excluded  whofe  habits  of 
needy  and  laborious  life  have  precluded  them  from  all 
opportunities  of  acquiring  fome  general  views  of  politi- 
cal relations.  Such  perfons  are  totally  unfit  for  delibe- 
rations, where  general  or  comprehenfive  views  only  are 
to  be  the  fubjeds  of  difcullion  ;  they  can  have  no  con- 
ceptions of  the  fubje6l,  and  therefore  no  fteady  notions 
.or  opinions,  but  muft  change  them  after  every  fpeaker, 
and  muft  become  the  dupes  of  every  demagogue. 

But  there,  are  other   circumftances  which  make  me 
think  that,  of  all  the  clafTes  of  citizens,  the  land  propri- 
etors are  the  fitteft  for  holding  this   important  othce.     I 
do  not  infer  this  from  their   having  a  more  real  connec- 
tion with  the  nation,  and  a  ftronger  intereft  in  its  fate— 
I  prefer  them  on  account  of  their    general   habits   of 
thought.     Almoft  all  their  ordinary  tranfa6iions  are  fuch 
as  make  them   acquainted  with  the  interefts  of  others, 
caufe  them  to  confider  thofe  in  general  points  of  view  ; 
and,  in   ftiort,  moft  of  their  occupations   are,  in  fome 
degree,  national.     They  are  accuftomed  to  fettle  diffeF- 
ences  between  thofe  of  lower  Nations — they  are  frequent- 
ly in  the   King's   commiffion  as   Juftices  of  the  Peace. 
All  thefe  circumftances  make  them  much  apter  fcholars 
in  that  political  knowledge,  which  is  abfolutely  neceffa- 
.  ry  for  a  member  of  the  Houfe  of  Commons.     But,  be- 
fides  this,   I  have  no   heiitation  in   faying  that  their  turn 
of  mind,  their  principles  of  conducl,  are  more  general- 
ly  fuch  as  become  a    Senator,  than  thofe  of  aiiy  other 
clafs  of  men.     This  clafs  includes  almoft  all  men  of   fa- 
mily.    I  cannot   help  thinking  that  even  what  is  called 
family  pride  is  a  fentiment  in   their  favor.     I  am  con- 
vinced that  all  our  propenfities  are  ufeful  in  fociety,  and 
that  their  bad  effetts  arife  wholly  from  want  of  modera- 
tion in  the  indulgence  of  them,  or  foraetimcs  from  the 
impropriety  of  the  occafion  on  which  they  are  exerted. 
What  propenlity  is  more  general  than  the  dchre  of  ac- 
quiring permanent   conhderation   for  ourfelvcs  and  our 
families  ?  .Where  is  the  man  to  be  found  ib  meaurlpirit- 


^S8  POSTSCRIPT. 

ed  as  not  to  value  himfelf  for  being  born  of  creditable 
parents,  and  for  creditable  domeftic  conne6tions  ?  Is 
this  wrong  becaufe  it  has  been  abufed  ?  So  then  is  every 
pre-eminence  of  office  ;  and  the  direflors  of  republican 
JFrance  are  as  criminal  as  her  former  Nobles.  This  pro- 
penhty  of  the  human  heart  fhould  no  more  be  reje6led 
than  the  defire  of  power.  It  fhould  be  regulated — but 
it  fhould  certainly  be  made  ufe  of  as  one  of  the  means 
of  carrying  on  the  national  bufmefs.  I  think  that  we 
know  fome  of.  its  good  effects— It  incites  to  a  certain 
propriety  of  conduft  that  is  generally  agreeable — its  ho- 
neRy  is  embellifhed  by  a  manner  that  makes  it  more 
plealing.  There  is  fomething  that  we  call  the  behaviour 
of  a  Gentleman  that  is  immediately  and  uniformly  un- 
derftood.  The  plaineil  pcafant  or  labourer  will  fay  of  a 
man  whom  he  efteems  in  a  certain  way,  "  He  is  a  Gen- 
tleman, every  bit  of  him"- — and  he  is  perfe6lly  under- 
flood  by  all  who  hear  him  to  mean,  not  a  rank  in  life, 
but  a  turn  of  mind,  a  tenor  of  conduft  that  is  amiable 
and  worthy,  and  the  ground  of  confidence. — I  rem.ark, 
■with  fome  feeling  of  patriotic  pride,  that  thefe  are  phra- 
i^s  almoft  peculiar  to  our  language — in  Ruffia  the  words 
would  have  no  meaning.  But  there,  the  Sovereign  is  a. 
defpot,and  all  but  the  Gentry  are  Haves  ;  and  the  Gen- 
try are  at  no  pains  to  recommend  their  clafs  hy  mch  a 
diftinclion,  nor  to  give  currency  to  fuch  a  phrafe. — I 
would  infer  from  this  peculiarity,  that  Britain  is  the  hap- 
py land,  where  the  wifeft  ufe  has  been  made  of  this  uro- 
penlity  of  the  human  heart. 

If  therefore  there  be  a  foundation  for  ibis  peculiarity, 
the  Gentry  are  proper  objects  of  our  choice  for  filiing 
the  Houfe  of  Commons. 

If  theoretical  confiderations  are  of  any  value  in  quef, 
lions  of  political  difculTion,  I  would  fay,  that  we  have 
good  reafons  for  giving  this  clafs  of  citizens  a  great  fhare 
in  the  public  deliberations.  Befides  what  I  have  alrea- 
dy noticed  of  their  habits  of  confidering  things  in  gene- 
ral points  of  view,  ciud  ihtii' feeling  2i  clofer  conne6li(?n 
vilh  the  nation  than  any   other  clafs,  I  would  fay  that 


POSTSCRIPT.  389 

the  power  and  influence  which  naturally  attach  to  their 
being  called  to  offices  of  public  truit,  will  probably  be 
better  lodged  in  their  hands.  If  they  are  generally  fe- 
letled  for  thefe  offices,  they  come  to  coniider  them  as 
parts  of  their  civil  condition,  as  fituations  natural  to 
them.  They  will  therefore  exerciic  this  power  and  in- 
fluence with  the  moderation  and  calmnefs  of  habit — they 
are  no  novelties  to  them — they  are  not  afraid  of  lofing 
them  ; — therefore,  when  in  oifice,  they  do  not  catch  at 
the  opportunities  of  exerciiing  them.  This,  is  the  ordi- 
nary Condutt  of  men,  and  therefore  is  a  ground  of  pro- 
bable reafoning. — In  fhort,  I  fhould  expetl  from  our 
Gentry  fomewhat  of  generolity  and  candour,  which 
would  temper  the  commercial  principle,  which  Teems  to 
regulate  the  national  tranfaftions  of  modern  Europe,  and 
whofe  effects  feem  lefs  friendly  to  the  belt  intereR  of  hu- 
manity, than  even  the  Roman  principle  of  glory. 

The  Reader  will  now  believe  that  I  would  not  re- 
commend the  filling  the  Houfe  of  Commons,  with  mer- 
chants, although  they  feem  to  be  the  natural  Reprefenta- 
tives  of  the  monied  intereft  of  the  nadon.  But  I  do  not 
v^ifh  to  co'nfider  that  Houfe  as  the  Reprefcntative  of 
any  Orders  whatever,  or  to  diflurb  its  deliberations  with 
any  debates  on  their  jarring  interelfs.  The  man  of  pure- 
ly commercial  notions  difclaims  all  generolity — recom- 
mends honefty  becaufe  it  is  the  befl  policy — in  Ihort, 
"  places  the  value  of  a  thing  in  as  much  money  as  'twill; 
bring."  I  fhould  watch  die  conduct  of  fuch  men  more 
narrowly  than  that  of  the  Nobles.  Indeed,  the  hilfory 
of- Parliament  will  fliow  that  the  Gentry  have  not  been 
the  moll  venal  part  of  the  Hou(e.  The  Illumination 
which  now  dazzles  the  world  aims  directly  at  multiply- 
ing the  number  of  venal  members,  by  filling  the  fenatej 
of  Europe  with  men  who  may  be  bought  at  a  low  price. 
Minilterial  corruption  is  the  fruit  of  Liberty,  and  free- 
dom dawned  in  this  nation  in  Queen  Elizabeth's  time, 
when  her  minifter  bribed  Wentworth. — A  wife  and  free 
Legiflation  will  endeavour  to  make  this  as  cxpenfive  and 
troublefome  as  polfible,  and  therefore  will  neither  adaiii; 
univerfal   fuffrage  nor  a  very   e.xtenlive  eligibility.— — ■ 


390  POSTSGRIPT. 

Thefe  two  circumllances,befides  opening  a  wider  door  to 
corruption,  tend  to  deftroy  the  very  intention  of  all  civil 
conftitutious.     The   great  object  in  them  is,   to  make  a 
great  number  of  people  happy.     Some  men  place  their 
chief  enjoyment  in  meafurmg  their  flrength  with  others, 
and  love  to  be  continually  employed  in  canvaffing,  in- 
triguing, and  carrying  on  fome  little  pieces  of  a  fort  of 
public  bufinefs  ;  to  fuch  men  univerfal  fuffrage  and  eli- 
gibility   would   be  paradife — but  it  is  to  be  hoped    that 
the  number  of  fuch  is  not  very  great  :  for  this  occupa- 
tion muft  be  accompanied  by  much  difquiet  among  their 
neighbours,  much  diffenlion,  and  mutual  offence  andill- 
"vvill — and  the  peaceable,  the  indolent,  the  ftudious,  and 
the  half  of  the  nation,  the  women,  will  be  great  fufferers 
by  all  this.     In  a  nation  poffeffing  many  of  the  comforts 
and  pleafures  of  life,  the  happieft   government  is   that 
which  will  leave  the  greateft  number  polfible  totally  un- 
occupied  with  national  affairs,  and  at  hdl  liberty  to  en- 
joy all  their  domeftic  and  focial  pleafures,  and  to  do  this 
with  fecurity  and  permanency.     Great  limitations  in  the 
right  of  eleding  feems  therefore  a  circumftance  neceflk- 
ry  for  this  purpofe ;  and  limitations  are  equally  necelfa- 
ry  on  the  eligibility.     When   the   offices  of  power  and 
emolument  are  open  to   all,  the  fcrarjible   becomes  uni- 
verfal, and  the  nation  is  never  at  peace.     The  road  to  a 
feat   in   Parliament  fhould  be  acceflible   to  all  ;  but  it 
ihould  be  long,   fo  that  many   things,  which  all  may  in 
time  obtain,  fhall  be  rcquifitc  for  qualifying  the   candi- 
date.    The  road  fliould  alfo  be  fuch  that  all  fliould  be 
induced  to  walk  in    it,   in  the  profecution  of  their   or- 
dinary bufinefs  ;  and  their  admitiion  into  public   offices 
fhould  depend  on  the  progrefs  which  they  have  made  in 
the  advancement  of  their  own  fortunes.     Such  regulati- 
ons would,  I  think,  give  the  greateft  chance  of  filling  ihe 
offices  with  perfons  fitteft  for  them, -by  their  talents,  their 
experience,  and  their  habits  of  thinking.     Thefe  habits, 
and  the  views  of  life  which  a  man  forms  in  confequence 
of  his  tituation,  are  of  the  utmoft  importance. 

After  all  thefe  obfervations,  I  mufl   ftill  recur  to  a 
pofition  which  I  have  repeated  more  than  once,  namely, 


POSTSCRIPT.  391 

tliat  onr  conflitution.  \vhich   nearly  embraces  all   ihefe' 
eircumllances,  has  attained  its  prefent  excellence  chiefly 
in  conlequenee  of  the  innate  worth  of  the  Britifli  charac- 
ter.    About  the  time  of  the  Conqueft,  our  conditulioii 
hardly  differed  from  that  of   France.     But  the  clafhmg 
of  interefts  between  the  different  Orders  of  the  fubjeds 
was  not  fo  rancorous  and  obftinate — thefe  Orders  melt- 
ed mop"  eafily  together — the  purity  of  the  principle  of 
Reprefentation  in  the  States  was   lefs  attended  to ;  and 
while  the  French  Peers    gradually  left  off  minding  amy 
buiinefs  butt)ieir  own,  and  left  the  High  Court  of  Ju- 
dicature to  the   lawyers,  and    the  Ring  to   his  Cabinet 
Council,  the  Peers  of  Great  Britain,  overlooking  their 
own  lefs   important   diftinftions,  attended    more   to  the 
State,  became  a  permanent  Council  to  the  Sovereign  in 
the  adminiftration  and   legiflation  ;  and,  with  a  patriot- 
ifm  and  a  patience  that  are  unknown  to  the  other  Gran- 
dees of  Europe,  continued  to  hear  and  to  judge   in  all 
queftions  ofjuitice  and  property  between  the  inferior  ci- 
tizens of  the  State.     Britifh  Liberty  is  the  highly-prized 
fruit  of  all  this  worthy  conduft,  and  moft  people  afcribc 
it  to  the  fuperior  fpirit  and  independence  of  the  national 
charafter.     It  ftrikes  me,  however,  as  more  furely  in- 
dicating fuperior  virtue,  and  more  judicious  patriotifm  ; 
and  our  happy  conftitution  is  not  more  juOly  entitled  to 
the  admiration  and  refpeft  that  is  paid   to  it  by  all   Eu- 
rope, than  to  the  affectionate  and  grateful  attachment  of 
every  true-hearted  Briton. 

Since  the  publication  of  this  volume  I  have  feen  a 
very  remarkable  work  indeed,  on  the  fame  fubjeft.  Me- 
moir t?,  pour  ftrvir  a  rHijloire  du  Jacobinifme,  par  M. 
i-Ahbe  Barruel.  This  author  confirms  all  thai  1  have 
faid  of  the  Enlighteners,  whom  he  very  aptly  calls  Phi- 
lofophijls ;  and  of  the  abufes  of  Free  Mafonry  in  France. 
He  (hows,  unqueilionably,  that  a  formal  and  fyftema- 
tic  confpiracy  againfl  Religion  was  formed  and  zealouf- 
ly  profecrtted  by  Voltaire,  d'Alembert,  and  Diderot, 
alhlted  by  Frederic  II.  King  of  Pruiha;  and  I  fee  that 
ibcir  principles  and  their  manner  of  procedure  have  beeni 
the  fame  with  thofe  of  ilic  German  ath9ifts  and  auar- 


3^2  POSTSCRIPT. 

chilis.  Like  them  they  hired  an  Army  of  Writers  5  tliey 
induftrioufly  puflied  their  writings  into  every  houib  and 
every  cottage.  Thofe  writings  were  equally  calculated 
for  inflaming  the  fenfual  appetites  of  men,  and  for 
perverting  their  judgments.  They  endeavoured  to  get 
the  command  of  the  Schools,  particularly  thofe  for  the 
lower  clafTes ;  and  they  erected  and  managed  a  prodi- 
gious number  of  Circulating  Libraries  and  Reading  So- 
cieties. M.  Barruel  fays,  that  this  gang  of  public  cor- 
ruptors  have  held  their  meetings  for  many  years  in  the 
Hotel  dc  Holbach  at  Paris,  and  that  Voltaire  was  their 
honorary  I'rehdent.  The  moil  eminent  members  were 
d^Alevihert^  Diderot,  Condor cd^  La  Harpe,  Turgot,  La- 
nrLoignon.  They  took  the  name  of  CE, c o  n  o  m  i s t s,  and 
affeded  to  be  continually  occupied  with  plans  for  im- 
proving Commerce,  Manufactures,  Agriculture,  Fi- 
nance, &c.  and  pubHfhcd  from  tune  to  time  refpecl- 
able  performances  on  thofe  fuhjetls. But  their  darl- 
ing proje6l  was  to  deftroy  Chriftianity  and  all  Reli- 
gion, and  to  bring  about  a  total  change  of  Govern- 
ment. They  employed  writers  to  compofe  corrupt- 
ing and  impious  books — thefe  were  revifed  by  the  So- 
ciety, and  correfted  till  they  fuited  their  purpofe.  A 
number  were  printed  in  a  handfome  manner,  to  defray 
the  expence  ;  and  then  a  much  greater  number  were 
printed  in  the  cheapefl:  form  poffibic,  and  given  for  no- 
thing, or  at  very  low  prices,  to  hawkers  and  pedlars, 
with  injuntlions  to  diftribute  them  fccrctly  through  the 
cities  and  villages.  They  even  hired  perfons  to  read 
them  to  conventicles  of  thofe  who  had  not  learned  to 
read.*     (See  vol.  i.  3-13— 355-) 

*  The  author  makes  an  obfen^atlon  which  is  as  jufl:  as  it  is 
aj^rceable.  This  atrocious  gang  folicited,  with  the  moic  anxious 
affidnity,  the  participation  and  patronage  of  the  great  ones  of  the 
■world,  and  boaft  of  feveral  very  exalted  names:  Frederic  II.  of 
Prufiia,  whom  they  call  the  Solomon  of  the  North,  Catharine  II- 
.Guftavus  King  of  Svv'eden,  the  King  of  Denmark,  &c.  t^c.  But  irt 
the  whole  feries  of  their  correfp  on  deuce  there  is  not  the  Icaft  trace 
rf  any  encouragement  or  any  hopes  from  our  excellent  Sovereign 
George  TIL  Defpifmg  the  inccnfe  offuch  wTetches,  and  deteii- 
mT  their  ffience,  he  has  truly  merited  the  title  cf  Philofophtr,  ty 


POSTSCRIPT.  393 

.  I  am  particularly  ftruck  by  a  pofition  of  Abbe  Bar- 
ruel,  "  That  Irreligion  and  unqualijied  Libei'ty  and, 
Equality  are  the  genuine  and  original  Secrets  of  Free  Ma- 
fonry,  and  the  ultimatum  of  a  regular  progrefs  through 
all  its  degrees  "  He  fupports  this  remarkable  pofition 
with  great  ingenuity,  and  many  very  pertinent  i'atls.  I 
confel's  that  now,  when  I  have  got  this  impreflion,  I 
fliall  find  it  very  diificult  to  efface  it.  But  I  muft  alfo 
fay,  that  this  thought  never  ftruck  me,  during  all  the 
time  that  I  have  been  occupied  with  it ;  nor  have  I  ever 
heard  it  expreffed  by  any  Brother,  except  fuch  as  had 
been  illuminated;  and  fuch  Brethren  always  confidercd 
this  as  an  innovation  or  improvement  on  genuine  Britifli 
.Free  Mafonry.  I  recollcQ:,  indeed,  that  Nicholai,  in 
bis  account  of  the  German  Rofycrucians,  fays,  that  the 
objett  of  Free  Mafonry  in  England,  lince  the  time  of 
James  II.  is  Toleration  in  Religiom  Opinions^  as  Roy- 
alijm  had  been  the  objed  before  that  time. 

The  account  which  the  Abbe  gives  of  the,  Chevalerie 
du  Soleil  is  very  conformable  to  one  of  the  three  rituals 
in  my  pdileffion.  His  account  of  the  Chevalerie  de  Roje 
Croix,  and  fome  others,  differs  con fiderably  from  the fe 
in  my  box.  I  have  reafon  to  think  that  my  materials 
are  tranfcripts  from  the  rituals,  &c.  which  Rofa  intro- 
duced into  the  German  Lodges,  becaufe  the  writer  of 
the  greateft  part  of  them  is  an  inhabitant  of  that  city. 

T  think  that  the  Abbe  Barruel's  account  of  this  matter 
fuggefts  a  pleafing  reflection.  All  the  Brethren  on  the 
Continent  agree  in  faying,  that  Free  Mafonry  was  im- 
ported from  Great  Britain  about  the  beginning  of  this 
century,  and  this  in  the  form  of  a  Myflical  Society.  It 
has  been  afliduoufly  cultivated  in  Britain  ever  fiuce  that 

iiaving  done  more  far  the  real  Illuminatioii  cf  the  World,  by  the 
promotion  of  true  Science,  than  Louis  XIV.  with  his  penfioned 
Academicir.ns,  or  than  ail  the  prefent  Sovereigns  of  Europe  unit- 
ed ;  and  has  uniformly  difiinguifhed  himfeif  by  his  regard  for  true 
.  Religion,  and  every  thing  that  is  venerable  and  iacred.  This 
omiiilon  is  above  all  praife  ! 

SB 


394 


POSTSCRIPT. 


time,  and  I  believe  that  the  Fraternity  is  more  numer- 
ous here,  in  proportion  to  the  population  of  the  coun- 
try, than  in  any  other  kingdom;  yet  in  Britain  the  Bre- 
thren have  never  fufpefted  that  its  principles  were  fedi- 
tious  or  atheiftical.  While  the  Free  Mafonry  of  the 
Continent  was  tricked  up  M'ith  all  the  frippery  of  ftars 
and  ribbands,  or  was  perverted  to  the  molt  profligate  and 
impious  purpofes,  and  the  Lodges  hpcame  feminaries  of 
Foppery,  of  Sedition,  and  Impiety,  it  has  retained  in 
Britain  its  original  form,  fimple  and  unadorned,  and  the 
Lodges  have  remained  the  fcenes  of  innocent  merriment, 
or  meetings  of  Charity  and  Beneficence.  As  the  good 
feme  and  Ibund  judgments  of  Britons  have  preferved 
them  from  the  abfurd  follies  of  Tranfmutation,  of  Ghoft- 
tailing,  and  of  Magic,  fo  their  honeft  hearts  and  their 
innate  good  difpohtions  have  made  them  deteft  and  re- 
ject the  mad  projeBs  and  impious  doBrines  of  Cofmo- 
politesj  Epicuriits,  and  Atheifts. 

0  fortunatos  nimium,  fuaji  bona  norint 
Anglicolas  ! 

I  have  more  confidence  than  ever  in  the  fentiment 
■which  I  exprefled  as  an  encouragement  for  our  moral 
inftruBors  ;  and  with  greater  earneftnefs  do  I  call  on 
them  to  refcue  from  corruption  and  impending  ruin  a 
nation  fo  highly  deferving  of  their  care. 

Mr.  Barruel,  in  the  eighteenth  chapter  of  his  work,  has 
fuggefted  fome  refleBions,  which  highly  merit  attention, 
and  greatly  tend  to  efface  the  imprellion  which  is  natur- 
ally made  on  the  minds  of  the  unthinking  and  precipi- 
tant, when  they  obferve  fuch  a  lift  of  authors,  whom 
they  have  been  accuftomed  to  admire,  all  leagued  againfl 
Religion.  1  think,  however,  that  nothing  can  more  ef- 
feBually  remove  it,  than  what  I  have  already  fhown  of 
the  vile  and  difgraceful  tricks  which  thefe  fophifts  have 
been  guilty  of  to  fupport  their  caufe.  The  caufe  of  this 
numerous  alfociation  is  diftinBly  feen  in  their  very  pro- 
cedure. The  very  fi^rft  ftep  in  their  progrefs  is  depra- 
vation of  manners*     In  this  they  have  laboured  with  as 


POSTSCRIPT. 


395 


imich  earneftnefs  as  either  Spartacus,  or  Minos,  or 
Bahrdt.  It  was  a  treat  to  me  to  learn  that  La  Clofe's 
abominable  book  Les  Liafons  D anger eufes^  was  not 
merely  pandering  lor  his  patron  Orleans,  but  alfo  work- 
iw^  for  his  mafters  at  the  Hotel  d'Holbach.  Nothing 
gives  fuch  certain  bread  to  thofe  authors,  in  the  begin- 
ning of  their  career,  as  immoral  and  mipure  writings  ; — . 
and  with  fuch  did  even  their  chief  fet  out,  and  fill  his 
pockets ;  witnefs  his  Pu^elle  d'Orleans  ;  and  even  after 
they  became  iht  fages  of  France^  they  continued,  either 
from  coarfe  taile  or  from  ferious  principle,  for  the  dia- 
bolical purpofe  of  inflaming  the  pallions  of  others,  to  in- 
terlard their  graved  performances  with  impure  thoughts 
and  fentiments.  Nay,  the  fecret  of  the  Hotel  d'Holbach 
fliews  us  that,  for  any  thing  we  know  to  the  contrary, 
the  vileft  produtlions  of  their  prefs  may  have  been  the 
compofitions  of  the  odogenary  Voltaire,  of  the  fly  d'A- 
lembert,  or  of  the  author  of  the  Pere  de  Faviille.  What 
a  pity  it  is  that  the  Decline  of  the  Roman  Empire  Vvas  not 
all  written  in  England,  and  that  its  learned  and  elegant 
author,  by  going  into  their  fociety,  has  allowed  himfelf 
to  be  drawn  into  this  muddy  and  degrading  vortex  ! 

I  fliould  fcarcely  afls.  for  more  to  difguft  me  with  the 
philofophy  of  thele  fages,  and  to  make  me  diflrud  all 
their  pretenlions  to  knowledge.  The  meannefs  of  the 
condud  fuited  the  original  poverty  of  the  whole  of  them ; 
but  its  continuance  Ibips  them  of  all  claims  to  the  name 
of  philofophers.  Their  pretended  wifdom  is  only  cun- 
ning— and  we  mull  acknowledge  that  their  condud  was 
clever  ;  for  this  mean  of  corruption,  concealed  or  em- 
belliflied  by  their  talents  for  fentimental  flang  (I  can 
give  it  no  better  name)  made  their  conveifation  and  their 
writings  mod  acceptable  to  their  noble  patrons. — Now  it 
is  that  Religion,  of  neceflity,  comes  on  the  field  ;  for 
Religion  tells  us,  that  thefe  are  mean  pleafures  for  crea- 
tures born  to  our  profpeds  ;  and  Chrillianity  tells  us, 
that  they  are  grofs  tranlgrelfions  o^  the  only  jiij'l  morahly. 
The  progrefs  of  the  pupil  will  now  be  rapid  ;  for  he  will 
liflen  with  willing  cars  to  leflons  which  flatter  his  paiii^ 
ons.     Yet  Voltaire  thinks  it  neceffary  to  enliven  the  lef- 


396  fOSTSCJ^IPT. 

fons  by  a  little  of  ihefalaifon^  quelques  bons  mots  d-pro- 
poa  aiiprh  de^femmes^  which  he  recommends  to  d'Alem- 
bert,  who,  it  leems,  was  deficient  in  this  kind  of  fmall 
talk. 

Surely  all  this  is  very  unlike  to  wifdom  ;  and  when 
we  fee  that  it  is  part  of  a  plan,  and  this  an  obvious  one, 
it  fhould  greatly  lefTen  our  wonder  at  the  number  of 
thele  admired  infidels.  If  we  would  now  proceed  to 
examine  their  prelenfions  to  fcience,  on  which  they 
found  their  claim  to  the  name  of  philofophers,  wemuft 
be  careful  to  take  the  word  in  a  fenfe  that  is  unequivocal. 
Its  true  meaning  is  by  no  means  what  is  commonly  affign- 
ed  to  it,  a  lover  of  knowledge.  It  is  a  lover  of  wifdom  ; 
and  philofophy  profefies  to  teach  us  what  are  the  con- 
flituents  of  human  felicity,  and  v;hat  are  the  means  of 
attaining  it ;  Vv'hat  are  our  duties,  and  the  general  rules 
for  Our  conduft.  The  {loics  were  philofophers.  The 
Chriftians  are  alfo  philofophers.  The  Epicureans  and 
the  Sophifts  of  France  would  alfo  be  called  philofophers. 
I  have  put  in  my  objeQion  to  this  claim  already,  and 
iieed  not  repeat  my  reafons  for  faying  that  their  do8rines 
are  not  ditlates  of  wifdom.  I  fhall  only  add,  that  their 
own  conduCl  fliows  plainly  that  their  principles  had  no 
efFecl  on  therafelves,  becaufe  we  fee,  from  the  feries  of 
corrcfpondence  which  Mr.  Barruel  has  laid  before  us, 
that  they  do  not  fcruple  to  praftifevillanous  and  hypocri- 
tical tricks,  which  never  fail  to  difgrace  a  man,  and  are 
totally  irreconcileable  with  our  notions  of  human  digni- 
ty. Voltaire  patiently  took  a  caneing  from  an  officer  at 
Frankfort,  for  having  wittily  told  lies  of  his  fcholar  Fre- 
deric, and  his  wifdom  told  him  that  his  honor  was  clear- 
ed by  offering  to  meet  the  Major,  each  of  them  provid- 
ed v/ith  an  injection  fyringe.  This  was  thought  ibblimc 
v/itat  Ferney.  I  do  not  fuppofe  that  the  fiave  Epi8e- 
tus,  or  tlie  foldier  Digby,  would  have  ended  the  affair 
in  this  manner.  Many  of  the  deeds  of  wifdom  of  the 
club  "d'Holbach  v;ere  more  degrading  than  even  this  j 
and  lam  confident  diat  the  whole  of  this  phalanx  of  fagcs 
were  CQnicio.ris  that  they  were  treated  by  their  patrons 
and  pupils  as   Voltaire  was  treated  by  the    Solomon  o-f 


POSTSCRIPT/  397 

tne  North,  and  that  their  notions  of  the  vraie  fagefe  . 
were  alfo  the  fame  with  his.  Pie  gives  this  accoant  of  it 
in  his  letter  to  his  niece  :  '*  Le  Roi  lui  avoit  repondu  ; 
'  j'aurai  befoin  deVoltaire  un  an  tout  au  plus — On  preiTe 
1  orange,  etDn  jette  I'ccorce.'  Je  me  iuis  fait  repejcr  ces 
douces  paroles" — (How  poor  Voltaire  would  grin  {) — • 
'-  |e  vpis  bien  qa'on  a  prelle  Forange— il  faut  peniera 
fauver  recorce." 

But,  as  things  ftand  at  prefent,  philofopher  means  a 
man  of  fcience,  and  in  this  fenfe  of  the  v;ord  our  fages 
claim  great  refpetl.  No  claim  can  be  worfe  founded. 
It  is  amuiing  to  obfervc  the  earnellnef,  with  which  they 
recommend  the  lludy  of  natural  hiftory.  One  does  not 
readily  fee  the  connexion  of  this  with  their  olleniible 
objett,  the  happinefs  of  man.  A  perufal  of  Voltaire's 
letters  betrays  the  fecret.  Many  years  ago  he  heard  that 
feme  obfervations  on  the  formation  of  (trata,  and  the 
fbOils  found  in  them,  were  incompatible  with  the  age 
■which  the  Mofaic  hiilory  feems  to  affign  to  this  globe. 
He  mentions  this  with  great  exultation  in  fome  of  his 
early  letters ;  and,  from  that  time  forward,  never  ceaies 
to  enjoin  his  colleagues  to  prefs  the  ftudy  of  natural  hif- 
lory  and  cofmogony,  and  carefully  to  bring  forward 
every  faft  which  was  hoftile  to  the  Mofaic  accounts.  It 
became  a  ferious  part  of  the  exercifes  of  their  wealthy 
pupils,  and  their  perplexing  difcoveries  were  moil  oi- 
tcntatioiidy  difplayed.  M.  de  Luc,  a  very  eininent  na- 
turaliit,  has  fhewn,  in  a  letter  to  the  Chevalier  Dr.  Zim- 
mermann  (publifhed,  I  think,  about  the  year  1790)  how 
very  Icanty  the  knowledge  of  thcfe  obfervers  has  been, 
and  how  precipitate  have  been  their  conciiifions,  .  For 
my  own  part,  I  think  the  affair  is  of  little  confequence. 
Mofes  writes  the  hiilory,  not  of  this  <ilobe,  but  or  the 
race  of  Adam. 

The  fcience  of  thcfc  philofopher:  is  rjot  rerrisykable  in 
other  branches,  if  we  except  M.  d'Aleoibert's  ma'i.heix.2- 
tics.*     Yet   the    nripohyig   confide:nce   of  .Voltaire  was 

■     *   Never  was  tliere  r.ny  thing  ir.ore  co^itcrnot'-ble  than  tl;e  phyfi- 
c*il  and  mechanical  pciitions  in  Diderot's  great  vvork,  the  Sjiftems  Jt; 


398  POSTSCRIPT. 

fuch,  that  he  palTes  for  a  perfon  fully  informed,  and  he 
pronounces  on  every  fubjeft  with  ib  much  authoritVy 
with  fuch  a  force  of  expreflion,  and  generally  with  fo 
much  wit  or  pleafantry,  that  his  hearers  and  readers  are 
fafcinated,  and  foon  convinced  of  what  they  wifh  to  be 
true. 

It  is  not  by  the  wifdom  nor  by  the  profound  know- 
ledge which  thefe  writers  difplay,  that  they  have  acquir- 
ed celebrity,  a  fame  which  has  been  fo  pernicious.  It 
is  by  fine  writing,  by  works  addreffed  to  the  imagina- 
tion and  to  the  afletlions,  by  excellent  dramas,  by  af- 
letting  moral  eflfays,  full  of  expreffions  of  the  greateft 
refped  for  virtue,  the  moil  tender  benevolence,  and  the 
higheft  fentiments  of  honor  and  dignity. — By  thefe  means 
they  fafcinate  all  readers  ;  they  gain  the  efteem  of  the 
worthy,  who  imagine  them  linccre,  and  their  pernicious 
doQrines  are  thus  fpread  abroad,  and  fteal  into  the  minds 
of  the  diflblute,  the  licentious,  and  the  unwary. 

But  I  am  writing  to  Britons,  who  are  confidered  by 
our  neighbours  on  the  Continent  as  a  nation  of  philofo- 
phers — to  the  countrymen  of  Bacon,  of  Locke,  of  New- 
ton— who  are  not  to  be  wheedled  like  children,  but  mud 
be  reafoned  with  as  men. — Voltaire,  who  decides  with- 
out hehtation  on  the  chara8;er  of  the  mofl;  diftant  na- 
tions in  the  mofl  remote  antiquity,  did  not  know  us  : 
he  came  among  us,  in  the  beginning  of  his  career,  with 
the  higheft  expeftations  of  our  fupport,  and  hoped  to 
make  his  fortune  by  his  Pucelle  d'Orieans.  It  was  re- 
jccled  with  difdain — but  we  publifhed  his  Henriade  for 
him  :  and,  notwithftanding  his  repeated  difappointments 

la  Nature  (Barruel  affirms,  that  he  was  the  author,  and  got  lOO  pif- 
toles  for  the  copy,  from  the  perfon  who  related  the  ftory  to  him) 
that  long  ago  found  that  Diderot  had  affifted  Rnblnet  to  make  a 
book  out  of  his  Mafonic  Oi'ation  which  I  mentioned  in  page  37. 
Robinet  trufted  to  Diderot's  knowledge  in  natural  philofophy.  But 
the  Junto  were  afham.ed  of  the  book  De  la  Nature.  Diderot  feems 
to  have,  after  this,  read  Dr,  Hartley's  book,  and.  has  greatly  refined 
en  the  crude  fyftem  of  Robinet.  But  after  all,  the  Syjleme  de  la  Na- 
ture is  contemptible,  if  it  be  confidered  as  pretending  to  what  is  re- 
ceived as  fcienceby  a  mechanical  philofophcr. 


POSTSCRIPT.  399 

of  the  fame  kind,  he  durft  not  offend  his  countrymen  by 
flandering  us,  but  joined  in  the  profound  refpecl  paid 
by  all  to  Britifh  fcience. — Our  writers,  whether  On  na-' 
tural  or  moral  fcience,  are  fiill  regarded  as  ftandard  daf- 
fies, and  are  ftudied  with  care.  Lord  Verulara  is  ac- 
knowledged by  every  man  of  fcience  to  have  given  the 
firfl  juft  defcription  of  true  philofophy,  pointed  out  its, 
objeds,  and  afcertained  its  mode  of  procedure — And 
Newton  is  -equally  allowed  to  have  evinced  the  propn- 
ety  of  the  Baconian  precepts  by  his  unequalled  fuccefs, 
fud  Mathejifacem  preferente. — The  moft  celebrated  phi  - 
lofophers  on  the  Continent  are  thofe  who  have  complet- 
ed %y  demonftration  the  wonderful  guelTes  of  his  pene- 
trating genius.  Bailli,  or  Condorcet  (I  forget  which) 
ftruck  with  the  inconceivable  reaches  of^  Newtoiiis 
thoughts,  breaks  out,  in  the  words  of  Lucretius, 

Tefequery  0  magna  gentls  decus,  inque  tu'is  nunc 
F'txa  pedum  pono  prejjis  vejligiajignis. 
Tu  pater  et  7-erum  inventory  tu  patr'ia  nobis 
Suppsditas  precepta,  tuifque  ex  inclute  chartisj 
Floriferis  ut  apes  infaltibus  omtiia  Ubanty 
Omnia  nos  iiidem  depafcimur  aurea  diBa  ; 
Aurea,  perpetud  fempsr  dign'iffima  vita. 

After  fuch  avowels  of  our  capacity  to  inftrucl  our- 
felves,  fhall  we  (till  fly  to  thofe  difturbers  of  the  world 
for  our  leffons  ?  No — Let  us  rally  round  our  own  Itand- 
ards — let  us  take  the  path  pointed  out  by  Bacon — let  us 
follow  the  fteps  of  Newton — and,  to  conclude,  let  us  fe- 
rioufly  conhder  a  moft  excellent  advice  by  the  higheft 
authority  : 

"  Beware  of  falfe  prophets,  who  come  to  you  in 
fheep's  cloathing,  but  inwardly  they  are  ravening  wolves 

BY     THEIR     FRU  ITS    YE    SHALL     KNOW  THEM Do 

men  gather  grapes  of  thorns,  or  figs  of  thirties  ?" 


THE     EN  D, 


'.     l^Vi 


